Tom Thibodeau continues to get the band back together, signs Taj Gibson in Minnesota

Tom Thibodeau continues to get the band back together, signing Taj Gibson to a two-year deal in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to get the old Chicago Bulls band back together under Tom Thibodeau. After (finally) pulling the trigger on a trade that landed them Jimmy Butler, the Wolves have agreed to a two-year deal with forward Taj Gibson.

With the signing, it appears that Minnesota has found their starting power forward and have seemingly completed their core. Gibson’s deal isn’t a monster by any means, costing Minnesota just $28 million over the next two seasons. That’s a bargain considering some of the deals that have been flying around the NBA in the first 48 hours of free agency.

Minnesota now has a starting lineup of Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Karl-Anthony Towns. It’s potentially the best lineup the Wolves have ever put on the floor, but the question now is will it all come together.

There’s a conspicuous lack of outside scoring in the lineup as it stands now, with nothing coming off the bench to counter that. Hopes were that someone like Kyle Korver or J.J. Redick would be lured in but both appear to be headed elsewhere.

While he hardly solves the need for perimeter shooting, Gibson seems to fit the defensive mold that Thibodeau is trying to put together. Under Thibs in Chicago, Gibson began to start coming into his own as a reliable defensive forward but the turmoil in the front office led to constant trade rumors to make room for — at the time — Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol.

In Minnesota, Gibson will have a clear shot to try and be the guy Thibs imagined and started to see blossom in Chicago. The only question is are we too far removed from that to see the results we want?