NBA Free Agency 2017, Taj Gibson
Mar 16, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) dribbles as he is guarded by Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) at Air Canada Centre. The Thunder beat the Raptors 123-102. USA TODAY Sports / Tom Szczerbowski

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson could sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Free Agency 2017 and reunite with former coach Tom Thibodeau, per fresh reports. The Chicago Bulls shipped Gibson's expiring contract and Doug McDermott to the Thunder before February’s trade deadline.

Though Gibson has expressed interest to re-sign with the Thunder, the veteran power forward will reportedly draw interest from Thibodeau when NBA Free Agency 2017 commences on July 1. During the Thunder's exit press conference, Gibson revealed that he had a conversation with general manager Sam Presti and head coach Billy Donovan about staying put in Oklahoma City. "There's going to be teams out there, but you never know what's going to happen. Anything can happen. But I wanted to let Sam (Presti) know I wanted to be here."

According to ESPN, the 31-year-old Gibson is due for his major payday in the NBA and the Timberwolves have "enough cap space to make a formidable offer, which could lure him away from Oklahoma City." The report added that "the chance to start next to Karl-Anthony Towns could tempt Gibson to reunite with Thibodeau, should his former coach make an offer."

Taj Gibson and Tom Thibodeau could reunite

Gibson was part of Thibodeau's Chicago Bulls that was consistently the No. 1 defensive unit in the league. Thibodeau has yet to inculcate the defense-first mentality in Minnesota after a disappointing season which saw future All-Stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins finish in the bottom half of the league in Defensive Real Plus-Minus (DRPM). In fact, Gorgui Dieng was the only player from the Timberwolves who cracked the Top-40. A few weeks ago, Thibodeau told reporters that his No. 1 priority in the offseason is to improve defense. Needless to say, Gibson will help in that regard.

"I think that’s where the biggest need is. The challenge is defensively and how important are you going to make that for our team, for yourself individually so that we can win? I think part of the responsibility of being a great player is having the ability to bring the best out of everyone you’re around," said the former Bulls coach. The Timberwolves will have approximately US$25 million (AU$33 million) to spend in NBA Free Agency 2017.

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