Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Scott Layden thanked former head coach and front office executive Tom Thibodeau for his services to the franchise throughout the last two-and-a-half years, noting this was an “organizational decision” to fire him, according to Zone Coverage and 1500 ESPN's Dane Moore:
After thanking Tom Thibodeau for his services, general manager scott layden called the move “an organizational decision.”
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) January 7, 2019
Further, Layden claims the observation of new newly-promoted Ryan Saunders happened over the years, as he progressed through the ranks and emerged as a legitimate candidate to take over the helm.
Layden's job as a general manager is still in the pendulum of the results he can provide as general manager of the team, as his fit with the franchise will be closely observed during the next 42 games of the regular season. The general manager said he never thinks about his job security but this would be the time to start, as a vacancy for the role of president of basketball operations could bring a new wave of front office cogs to follow.
Saunders, the son of the late Flip Saunders, is getting his first shot at a head coaching job — and he noted during his introductory press conference that he did not expect it to come this soon.
“I definitely did not expect to be standing here,” said Saunders after paying his respects to Thibodeau, who made him his assistant. “I think everyone knows this is special… for a number of reasons.”
Saunders is now the youngest active coach in the league at 32-years-old and will have a challenging task in bringing the Wolves back to prominence with the second half of the season ahead.
Minnesota is currently 11th in the West and only two games away from the eighth seed after a 22-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers, who currently hold that spot.
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