Taylor was said to have lost trust in Thibodeau quickly after hiring him in '16NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The decision by the T'Wolves to fire President of Basketball Operations and coach Tom Thibodeau had Owner Glen Taylor's "fingerprints all over it," according to Chris Mannix of SI.com. Sources said that Thibodeau often has "little regard for those above him on the masthead, and there have been incidents over the last two seasons where Taylor believed Thibodeau was dismissive of him." Thibodeau was hired in '16, and it did not take long for Taylor to "decide he didn't like who he ended up with." Thibodeau "should be held accountable, and was," but Taylor "should be too, and won't." Taylor has "earned the admiration of many Minnesotans," but since he bought the T'Wolves in '94, the team has "endured nearly incomparable futility" (SI.com, 1/7).
OVERDUE MOVE: In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes the timing of Thibodeau's "dismissal was surprising." Scoggins: "What took them so long?" Thibodeau's firing was "inevitable after his bungled handling of the Jimmy Butler fiasco." The move "stemmed from both basketball and business factors, not necessarily one thing but an accumulation of issues." It is "not a coincidence that his firing comes a few weeks before season-ticket renewals are issued." Thibodeau's "personality and decision-making caused irreparable damage in public relations." T'Wolves' attendance "sank lower and lower, and fans continued to boo him during introductions" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/8). NBA TV's J.E. Skeets said the T'Wolves "had to do this, there was no choice." Skeets: "He lost trust ... with players at times, with the front office, the owner in Glen Taylor. The fans were booing him. ... No one was really on board with Thibs." Skeets added the removal of Thibodeau is "almost just as much a business decision as it is an on-court basketball decision" ("The Starters," NBA TV, 1/7).
NOT A BIG DRAW: In Minneapolis, Michael Rand writes Thibodeau was "not well-liked by fans." Season-ticket sales "regressed this offseason," and the T'Wolves returned to their "customary position near the bottom of the league in attendance -- currently No. 29." So the "decision to get rid of Thibodeau became easier" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/8).
