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LA Clippers: Tom Thibodeau might be worth a look

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Head Coaches Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers and Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves exchange handshakes after the game on November 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Head Coaches Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers and Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves exchange handshakes after the game on November 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After being sacked by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tom Thibodeau might be worth a look as an assistant for the LA Clippers.

On Sunday afternoon, Minnesota fired president and head coach Tom Thibodeau, effectively ending the “TimberBulls” era (error?). This move, while shocking due only to timing, leaves Thibs on the wrong end of his second straight head coaching position. The LA Clippers might want to give him a look as the team’s lead assistant.

For starters, Doc Rivers and Thibodeau have history together. Thibs was Doc’s lead assistant in Boston where they won a championship together in 2008. The two still have a huge appreciation for one another. In 2012 when preparing to face each other, Thibs had this to say:

"“Anytime you win a championship with somebody it ties you together forever,” said Thibodeau, who was an assistant on Rivers’ staff when they won a title in 2008. “He’s (Doc) been a good friend for a long time.”"

The Clippers already hired a former member of Doc’s staff after his firing from a head coaching position this season. Tyronn Lue was hired mid-December by LA in an advisory role for Doc and the coaching staff. What’s one more addition?

Now, the move may not be a necessity during this season, but very well could be considered in the offseason, especially if Sam Cassell get his own looks at head coaching gigs. Cassell has been an assistant for the Clippers since 2014 and was in Washington before that, starting in 2009. He may have enough experience to get consideration and could finally leave.

Thibs brings a defensive mindset, which would pair greatly with Rex Kalmanian who was hired this past summer. If the two were able to focus on the defense together, the Clippers could become a very serious threat, especially if they are able to add former Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard to this mix.

In his two coaching stints, his biggest knocks have been the intensity he demands and the extreme minutes he would play his star players. While the intensity issue may still crop up every now and again in practice, he would have no control of the minutes as an assistant.

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There aren’t too many opportunities to add a coach like Thibs to your staff as an assistant, but given Doc’s relationship with him and the fact that he may not be in the position to get another head coaching job just yet, the Clippers really should give thought to adding him at some point.

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