Rumors of Karl-Anthony Towns being upset with head coach Tom Thibodeau have dissipated after the end of their postseason, now presenting a different situation. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Minnesota Timberwolves center has not asked for a trade and could start extension talks in the near future.
“Thibodeau and Towns have spoken on the phone this offseason, league sources told The Athletic, and there is expected to be more substantive dialogue in the coming weeks when Towns returns from his travels,” wrote Krawczynski. “According to several people familiar with the situation, there has not been an impasse between the two. Towns has not asked for a trade and the Wolves are not considering trading him. As contract extension talks kick off for Towns this summer, the communication only figures to increase.”
Towns had a questionable commitment to defense in his third year with the team, coupled now with a lack of aggression in the first two games against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs — which only contributed to the prior rumors.
Thibodeau, who wears the hats of president and head coach, fired assistant coach Vince Legarza, who worked closely with Towns, fanning the flames of rumors about an unhappiness between coach and player.
“When you look around the league, there’s rumors everywhere, so you don’t want to respond to every rumor,” Thibodeau said. “And when you go down a path where you’re trying to change things to improve, there’s going to be some bumps in the road. But your communication, what you’re doing every day, these are not uncommon things.”
Having locked down Andrew Wiggins last summer, it is Towns' turn this offseason — a clear double-double threat and model of the modern big man, able to score around the basket and the perimeter with a deft touch from the outside.
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