Editor's Note: After Tuesday’s press conference introducing Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden at the Target Center, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor chatted with Kyle Ratke about the hiring process and what he expects moving forward.
KR: After it was reported an interview with Tom had been scheduled, everything moved pretty fast from there. For you, what made Thibodeau such an intriguing candidate for head coach and president of basketball operations?
GT: I think just his history. I think it was pretty well known what he does. That was all out in the open. Also, when we were looking, when Flip (Saunders) was looking for a coach and (Thibodeau) got laid off from his job and spent some time talking with him, I didn’t do that, but Flip shared with me all the things that he liked about him. It was consistent with what we wanted. He saw great things. Tom said at that time he needed a year to take off to just get away from basketball for a year. He was going to get paid during that year. He was high on my list before I started (the search), but it was probably first based upon others, what others thought of him. But once I met with him, it was consistent from what everybody else said.
KR: With everything moving so fast with getting him signed, was some of that because of how many openings there might be around the league for head coaches?
GT: I knew there were going to probably be seven other teams that would call him. I just wanted to be the first one.
We had to wait until our season was done and I had to talk to Sam (Mitchell) first and then I gave him a call. I wanted to find out if he was interested, because I’d be wasting my time, even if I was interested. I didn’t want to talk him into this. After talking with him for a very short time, I could see that this was one of the teams that he would like to come to. I didn’t have to talk him into coming here. It was a destination that he wanted and I wanted him. I think that made our conversations really go fast.
KR: You talked earlier about windows and opportunities for the franchise. There was Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury. Then Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. You have another young and talented big man with Karl-Anthony Towns. You went out and got your guy very quickly. I'm guessing you're viewing this as another championship window for the team?
GT: Absolutely, and I especially think there’s probably some great young coaches out there, assistant coaches today, who are going to become great coaches. Of course we put them in the group and we looked at them, but I just thought now is not the time to be testing with a new coach but to go with somebody that we understand, that’s seasoned, that wants the job, so it’s different than what I’ve previously done.
KR: Early on it sounded like Thibodeau accepted the deal and brought Layden with him, but from what I understood from the press conference, you hired them seperately?
GT: That’s exactly right. I interviewed them both and I told them to both talk to each other. I told them exactly my expectations in making sure you guys are committed to this and I offered them a contract at the exact same time and they both had to make up their mind the same day.
KR: This is a special day for you and you mentioned that you gave both Thibodeau and Layden long contracts, telling the fan base you are in it for the long haul. How exciting and special is this day for you knowing that you got two of the best guys on the market?
GT: It’s special because we had that one great playoff run and it looked like we were going to get to the championship and then with injuries we didn’t. It was so exciting during that time and I want to get back there. It’s not only for myself, it’s for our fans and our players.