New Minnesota Timberwolves Thibs, Layden Expect Draft Night to Be a Wild One

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden are expecting their first draft night as leaders of the Minnesota Timberwolves to be a wild one.

After taking over an up-and-coming team that has not made the playoffs in 12 years in April, Thibodeau and Layden head into Thursday night's draft with the fifth overall pick and plenty of options available.

Thibodeau was hired as coach and president of basketball operations to expedite what has been an interminable rebuilding process. The Wolves have not made the playoffs since 2004, but the late Flip Saunders helped stock the team with enough young talent to put them in position to end the longest active postseason drought in the NBA — provided the right moves are made this summer.

Like most teams in the league, the Wolves will have plenty of salary cap room to try to add a veteran or two once free agency begins in July. But there is also no doubt that a pick as high as No. 5 would be a nice piece to package in a trade offer to land an experienced player to help augment the dynamic pups on the roster.

Thibodeau and Layden say they're also working to add to the coaching and front office staffs. They have yet to announce any new hires since coming aboard but said progress is being made on multiple fronts.

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