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Taj Gibson: The good, the bad and the ugly

By Brian Sampson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /

The bad: Contract

If this category was “not good, but not bad” the contract would fit a lot nicer.

A two-year contract isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for the Wolves, but it did limit their financial flexibility somewhat this offseason, especially after seeing Patrick Patterson sign a three-year $16.4 million deal with the division-rival Oklahoma City Thunder.

The good news is, in two-years, Minnesota will be able to wipe their hands completely of this deal. Given that Gibson will be 34-years-old at that time, it’s very likely that’s exactly what they will do.

The $14 million annually is more what hurt Minnesota.

Instead of being able to sign two, or even three guys for that money, they were stuck paying it to one wily veteran. Because of that lack of money, Minnesota lost out on guys like C.J. Miles, Tony Allen and Dante Cunningham. You can argue whether that combination of players will have the same impact as one Gibson and I won’t put up much of a fight.

It’s hard to fault Thibodeau, though, as he made his move based on last summer’s spending spree. He didn’t yet know how drastic this market will be and if he did, Gibson likely would have had a much different offer from the Timberwolves.

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