Former LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce commented on Tom Thibodeau’s recent moves in Minnesota, comparing them to those of Doc Rivers during his time as GM.
Lately, it seems Tom Thibodeau is doing everything in his power to resurrect his old Chicago Bulls team as Minnesota Timberwolves. Last season, Thibodeau brought in Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and Derrick Rose, all members of his 2012 Bulls team. And just this week, Thibs claimed Luol Deng after he was bought out by the Los Angeles Lakers.
With the exception of Butler, each of the players will be 30 years or older upon the beginning of the regular season. And also with the exception of Butler, none of those former All-Stars have been All-Stars since — you guessed it — they played for Thibodeau in 2012.
Sounds a little familiar? Maybe like Doc Rivers while he was in charge of basketball ops with the Clippers? Former Clipper and Celtic Paul Pierce agrees.
"“I understand what Thibs is trying to do because he’s had players he won with and comfortable with, but these players are past their prime… When you’re comfortable like that usually it doesn’t work out. Doc brought me into the Clippers. Jeff Green, Big Baby all who we played for on the Celtics.”– via ESPN’s The Jump"
Pierce makes a solid point here — he knows better than anyone that what Thibodeau is trying likely won’t work. Pierce mentions that when Rivers was in charge of the Clippers, he consistently brought in former players from the best Celtics team he coached, like Thibodeau is doing with his old Bulls.
We all know how this turned out for the Clippers. The chemistry wasn’t there, the rotations were swayed towards old veterans, and ultimately, the experiment failed.
The Timberwolves have much stiffer competition now than the Clippers did at the time, too. When Davis and Green were first brought in, the Warriors were still on the rise and had not yet established themselves as the league’s most dominant team. Now, with LeBron James in the West and DeMarcus Cousins in Golden State, the Wolves will have a harder time competing than the Clippers ever did.
If it didn’t work then, it’s not going to work now.