The Minnesota Timberwolves ended Tom Thibodeau's brief tenure with the team on Sunday, and now the team is in need of a new head coach. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, former All-Star and NBA champion Chauncey Billups is on the short list of replacement possibilities.
Minnesota GM Scott Layden will remain in place for now, but his future is uncertain. Fred Hoiberg and ESPN analyst Chauncey Billups have been discussed internally as possible candidates for GM or head coach, per sources. Hoiberg appears focused on a return to NBA coaching.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 7, 2019
Hiring Billups would be an interesting choice. He was an outstanding player, but he has no coaching experience.
As a player, Billups spent the best years of his career with the Detroit Pistons, where he won a championship in 2004. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, L.A. Clippers, and two seasons for the Timberwolves.
Billups had solid career numbers, posting averages of 15.2 points, 5.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and one steal per game.
He was known for his penchant for hitting shots in the clutch, hence the nickname “Mr. Big Shot.”
If Chauncey Billups gets hired, he will have a tough task ahead of him. After trading Jimmy Butler, the team has not turned their bad start to the season around and they continue to struggle.
They currently hold a record of 19-21 and are fighting to get into the Western Conference playoff picture. Robert Covington and Dario Saric, acquired for Butler, have played well for the team, but they have yet to put together a solid stretch of good basketball.
Whoever the Timberwolves end up hiring, they will have to lead the team through a difficult second half that will determine if the team gets a shot at dethroning the reigning champs.
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