Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 goals for Taj Gibson

2. Build a big bond with the Big KAT

There is plenty of important issues any player needs to address when joining a new team, none more important than chemistry.

For Taj Gibson, things will be no different.

He will need to quickly adjust to life in cold Minnesota, as well as finding a rhythm with his new teammates. None of these Timberwolves will be more important to adjust to than budding franchise superstar Karl-Anthony Towns.

Taj talked at Media Day about the immediate chemistry that he is feeling in the Mayo Clinic.

"It’s been easy for me really, being around the coaching staff … the drills, everything I’m familiar with. It’s kind of weird being new to a team and he [Thibs] is constantly calling your name out already” he said."

This leadership and trust that Tom Thibodeau has installed in Gibson could be vital for the Timberwolves, and especially Towns.

KAT was sublime last year, he averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds while becoming the first player ever to record 2000 points, 1000 rebounds and 100 3-pointers in a single season.

For all that offensive excellence, however, Towns had his defensive downfalls, much like any sophomore who only spent one year in college.

According to NBA Math, Towns allowed opponents to shoot a way above average mark of 52 percent. His position and awareness left him in defensive trouble far too often. As the last line of defense for many of the Wolves poor perimeter defenders, Towns much be much more solid if he doesn’t want Coach Thibs breathing down his neck 24/7.

Towns has seemed to lose a step on defense since the ever-communicating Kevin Garnett left him to fight off opposing offenses alone.

This is where Gibson will be a huge help. His communication skills, along with former and now current teammate Jimmy Butler, make knowing where to be and when to be there a whole lot easier for Towns.

It’s not just his communication though: his defensive ability to cover for Towns when he does get caught out of position will make life run smoother defensively for KAT, with not every single one of his defensive lapses leading to scores.

These two Timberwolves big men will do well to find, and enhance this bond immediately.

Speaking to Fox Sports North, Gibson seems eager help lead and develop this young team

"“I’m just trying to be a solid vet and help them in their development process and try to learn from them as well” he claimed."

If these two can click sooner rather than later, the coaching staff and players will have nothing but winning games to concern themselves with, and not trying to get the newest Wolves to mesh with the already stable young stars.

With a hefty contract to uphold, and a bunch of ball-dominant stars around him, Gibson will have to do more than what shows up in the box score to justify his payment.

The role of mentoring the youth — mainly the eternal hope we call Karl-Anthony Towns –will be a huge step to proving his worth to the fans, staff and most importantly his teammates.