NBA Transactions

The Wolves announced Tom Thibodeau as the new GM/Coach. Personally I think they should've hired a badass GM first (not Sam Hinkie) and let him hire a coach, I just prefer keeping the positions separate. Thibodeau is a rugged taskmaster who will keep the kids in line and bring this crowd along. My first thought was: how does he wriggle Jimmy Butler out of Chicago? But looking over the numbers, he'd have to give away the entire bench and probably a few future draft picks, so I don't see that one happening (though it does appear that the Bulls are increasingly eager to move Butler). As it is now Thibs has a starting lineup of Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, KAT, Gorgui with Shabazz, Bjelica, KG, the #5-ish pick and Payne off the bench. A nice crew for Thibs to work with. Personally I think Thibs might be too much for these guys but he's definitely a good coach and these guys are ready for him. Good hire.  

The Suns have officially named Earl Watson (3yrs/$?) to be their head coach. The emergence of Devin Booker will probably move Eric Bledsoe to the trade block (don't ya think?). But for now the starting five looks like Bledsoe, Booker, Tucker, Warren and Chandler with Knight, Len and Goodwin off the bench, in addition to 3 1st rd picks. There's upside but the Suns front office doesn't tend to leave well enough alone, so we'll see what he'll have to work with in the fall. 

The Wizards have offered their head coach position to Scott Brooks. Is this a move to lure Kevin Durant? I dunno, man, I don't have the impression that that would bring Durant to leave OKC. The Wizards have moves to make this summer, hard to know what they'll be come the start of next season but he'll have Wall, Beal and Gortat to build around and something we definitely learned this year: when Beal's healthy the Wizards are pretty good, when he's not they're kinda terrible. 

The Knicks are pretending to look for a coach but Phil Jax is gonna give a big money contract to Kurt Rambis, right? Man, who would've thought that Jackson was going to be worse for the Knicks than Isiah Thomas?