It sounds like the Timberwolves’ big three are here to stay.
In an interview with ESPN 1000 out of Chicago this week, Wolves president/coach Tom Thibodeau said the organization feels “very strongly” about building around Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine.
“The things that Karl-Anthony Towns, what he’s doing, what Andrew Wiggins is doing … and of course Zach was having a terrific year averaging close to 20 points per game most of the year before he was injured. Those three guys are something that we feel very strongly about, and we’re going to try to build around them,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau’s goal is to build around the three by adding “veteran leadership, toughness and depth” to the bench this summer.
That could mean trading their pick.
Minnesota cannot find veteran leadership with the No. 7 pick in the June 22 NBA Draft, which means there’s a good chance – just like owner Glen Taylor recently said – that they trade their lottery pick in what appears to be a very deep draft.
“There’s a lot of good players and you’re shifting through, trying to determine which ones might be available for you and how they’ll fit into your team,” Thibodeau said in the interview. “But I can tell just from the calls that we’re getting – and we’re picking at seven – that there’s a lot of interest in that pick.”
Thibs says there's been a lot of interest from other teams in TWolves 7th pick. He figures interest will be high for a lot of picks in Draft
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) June 7, 2017
The Iguodala factor.
A name to watch when free agency begins in July is Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala, who Thibodeau couldn’t help but rave about twice during his ESPN 1000 interview.
“The guy who probably gets overlooked quite a bit is (Andre) Iguodala,” Thibodeau said. “Iguodala is a terrific player. He gets overlooked at times and he brings a lot to that team.”
Thibodeau later said: “They also have Iguodala out there, who’s a star in his own right.”
Anything Thibodeau says about Iguodala has extra merit since ESPN reported last week that the Wolves are among a handful of teams expected to show interest in him this summer.
