T-Wolves President Chris Wright has received 1,300 e-mails about Bill Simmons; source says number is 15,000
Posted on May 11th, 2009 – 11:06 AMBy Michael Rand
[Second update]: So it turns out the 15,000 number might be a tad high. The Timberwolves have confirmed President Chris Wright has received 1,300 e-mails about ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons and his candidacy for the Wolves’ GM job.
We heard the 15,000 e-mail number from another source, who maintains that 15,000 is correct and that Wolves officials have used that number in conversations with other NBA officials. (This message board thread used to say 12,000 … now it says 1,200).
15,000. 1,300. Regardless, we think both numbers are pretty impressive.
(Mr. Hutz, we’ve been in here for four hours. Do you have any evidence at all? … Well, Your Honor. We have plenty of hearsay and conjecture. Those are kinds of evidence).
Simmons’ following cannot be underestimated. We’re not sure what his ESPN.com readership is, but one easy metric comes via his Twitter page (which we believe he does not promote on ESPN.com). He put out his first “Tweet” on April 30, essentially a week-and-a-half ago. And he already has more than 13,000 followers there.
Bottom line: While his candidacy still seems as though it’s going nowhere with the Wolves’ brass as higher-ups slog through the search process, it’s certainly resonating with fans from a team that ranked 27th in attendace this season. And if 15,000 is correct, that would represent a higher number than the Wolves’ average attendance last year.
53 Responses to "T-Wolves President Chris Wright has received 1,300 e-mails about Bill Simmons; source says number is 15,000"
(inside Target Center)
WOLVES MANAGEMENT FIGUREHEAD #1: 15,000 fans have emailed, expressing an opinion on our search for a general manager! Interest in our team is at a two-year high!
WMF #2: And in order to continue that interest, all we have to do is make an unconventional hire for a front-office position that’s poison throughout the league. We can’t get anyone decent to take this job, or even interview for it.
WMF #1: In other words, this interest is absolutely free. We give up nothing. We make the team no worse off. The guy is even working for a $1 salary in year 1.
WMF #2: We have a list of ways this makes the bottom line better. And it costs us *nothing*.
(silence)
(sound of clock ticking)
CHRIS WRIGHT: Get out of my office, you idiots.
If we had Bill Simmons 4 years ago, we would have both Danny Granger and Brandon Roy. Just check his draft diaries from those years
Obviously this started off as publicity for Simmons with his new book coming out and has grown some legs. That being said, what exactly would Simmons do to turn this franchise around? If you want to draw interest back to the Wolves put a winning team on the floor. The novelty of Simmons would wear off after the first 5 game losing streak in October. There are 20 more qualified guys with experience that haven’t had a chance to run an NBA franchise. Why should Simmons be first in line?
Shouldn’t Wolves fans be sending emails to Wright with suggestions of viable GM possibilities?
How long before Jon starts emailing Leipold to hire Barry Melrose?
Jama
20 guys?
Maybe, maybe not
What makes someone who gets RC Buford coffee every morning automatically qualifed to be a skilled general manager?
Simmons could easily fail, but if you read his analysis regularly he has been right far more often than at least half the gms currently running teams.
Just because he hasn’t spent time in someones front office running errands doesn’t mean he can’t be as qualified.
I absolutely love that this is on StarTribune.com. No matter if it goes anywhere or not, I’m psyched that it’s even a remote possibility.
If you want to draw interest back to the Wolves put a winning team on the floor.
While we’re in Imaginationland, let’s set up a three team trade that somehow nets us LeBron and Chris Paul while only getting rid of Brian Cardinal and Sebastian Telfair.
Seeing that there is no interest in this team anyway, why not create some external and likely temporary interest? When did basketball change from a business to something that’s above doing things that might be perceived as a little “off” for money?
Would there still be an ESPN bias against MN teams if they hire Simmons?
(This message board thread used to say 12,000 … now it says 1,200).
Proving once again Minnesotans cannot count!
With Bill Smith’s moves so far, any chance Bill Simmons can be the Twins GM instead?
Bill Simmons is a pompus airbag that likes to hear himself talk and thinks he could be a GM, if he really thinks that why doesn’t go down that career path and start in the NBDL or something. What a joke.
Randball Feud Scores:
JPF: 170
Roughkat: 170
Roto: 160
Nathan: 155
Fasol: 150
Jama: 150
Adam: 140*
darlo: 140
Dave: 130
Boogie: 110
Merx: 110
Sconway: 100
Muxhut: -50
* Couldn’t get a perfect score even after answers were posted .
For my first Feud attempt, I must say I’m pleased with the results.
Simmons states his case well. If the Wolves hired Simmons, they’d immediately make national headlines. Right now, they are completely irrelevant. He is knowledgeable about the NBA. He’s got better understanding of player value than half of the current GM’s in the league. He consistently explains who to look for as up and coming players BEFORE THEY BECOME GOOD. He identifies players who aren’t as good as people think BEFORE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE PLAYER ISN’T THAT GOOD. He has great foresight - not hindsight. Give him a chance. The Wolves cannot get any less relevant than they are. They really have nothing to lose with a move like this.
If they hired him its nothing more than a publicity stunt, it would seem he would struggle with dealing with agents, other GM’s the business side of things with no expierence. I would be less of a fan if they do hire him than I am now. Even an assistant GM would be a better hire, maybe not as sexy but I don’t want that, I want wins.
NBA execs think they are smarter than everyone else, and that their job requires some type of unique insider understanding. It’s a very pompus attitude in a country where we get a new president every 4-8 years, and our current president, who has NO executive experience, appears to be doing well. I say hire an outsider with some fresh ideas, let him surround himself with the “insider experts” for advice and see what happens. It won’t be worse than “expert” McHale’s trades or “expert” Childress’ clock management.
Why wouldn’t you do this? The guy bleeds the NBA, knows more about it and is more passionate about it than most of the GMs that sit in their suites and wonder why only 11,000 people showed up to their Tuesday night game vs the Grizzlies… At least Simmons would bring attitude, outside the box thinking, and ticket sales to Minnesota (who have been completely void and irrelevant since KG left) Anyway under the age of 35 knows who Simmons is (even if you dont follow the NBA, you still read his columns about it, the Celtics, or his running diaries, etc)… We get offers at work to go to Wolves games (for free, on the floor) all the time, I dont think anyone has gone the past 2 seasons… If Simmons became GM, I’d go just to support him, knowing at least he’s trying to put a winning team on the floor…
If they aren’t looking to improve, just give the job back to McHale.
Anyway under the age of 35 knows who Simmons is
**should read “Anyone”**
Even an assistant GM would be a better hire, maybe not as sexy but I don’t want that, I want wins.
Now why would an assistant GM be more likely to make that happen than Bill Simmons? Hell, there are plenty of actual NBA GMs who can’t make a winning team. Hint: We just got rid of one.
Everyone wants to think there’s some kind of value in experience in this job, but I don’t see it. I think if you know your stuff (which it seems Simmons does) and have a good head on your shoulders, you probably have just as good a shot as anyone at being successful.
As well….as I also should be the Vikings new QB. Favre you got nothin….NOTHIN.
From “the media” to a professional sports team’s most prominent position.
Where have I heard that before?
Oh yeah, Fox Sports commentator Matt Millen to the presidency of the Detroit Lions.
How did that go?
Simmons is coming to the right state to make his case. Wrestler for governor, comedian for Senator.
Being a big fan and an excellent sportswriter does not necessarily translate to managing a staff, a scouting network, salary cap and payroll concerns, and actually doing deals (and to do deals, other GM’s typically do not want to be made fun of in future articles/books).
Just because things haven’t worked out as well as they could have in the past does not mean you take someone just because “it can’t get any worse”. It can. I actually like watching the games, and would prefer that we hire a pro.
Anyone who actually likes this idea and wants Simmons to be GM, get sterilized.
And anyone who thinks Simmons “bleeds the NBA, knows more about it and is more passionate about it than most GMs” should get sterilized And lobotomized.
If Simmons was so great then why doesn’t he have a GM job then, if he can do no wrong, then shouldn’t he be in the league in some capactiy. You just can’t hand him the keys and think its going to work, two words Matt Millen, he was great on TV, knew what he was talking about, was passionate about football, how did that turn out?
I agree with swmnreader in stating that Simmons basketball knowledge is outstanding. I’d go as far as saying he knows more about basketball than anyone interviewing for the job. Obviously I don’t know that for sure, but the success rate of NBA execs floats somewhere around Joe Mauers batting average. But I’ll also say that hiring Simmons would make the Wolves and even bigger national joke.
In the end, the only thing that is going to make this team relavant again is wins. And there is no way to know how any candidate will do in getting us those wins. I don’t care who gets the job, but I would support a Simmons hire.
Sorry Jeff, I had posted before I read your point. You are spot on, and so are you John. Its not like McHale wasn’t trying, he just wasn’t very good at it, Simmons may try all he wants but I would have no faith in him.
Oh my god, it’s ACCESS T-WOLVES! FIRE MCFAIL!1!!!1!ONE!!
I understand people who think it’s a stunt. Really.
But I think the basic question here is what is the difference between Simmons and someone with an NBA “pedigree.” Outside of a few outstanding organizations, the league is full of front-office staff who only emulate other front office staff, don’t plan long-range and can’t evaluate talent.
Sure it’s somewhat promotional for Simmons. Yes, it would be perceived as a stunt.
The point is that sometimes it takes an outside eye to change things.
For the Doubters: this isn’t about you and the fact that you “enjoy” watching a losing team play day in and day, and dont care about the hype, the media attention, or the fact you can’t sell a ticket to a game for 5 bucks, let alone, give one away… It’s about fan support (which you dont have and Simmons would generate), it’s about a general interest in the team (dont have, Simmons would bring), national stage or spotlight (the celebrity Simmons would also bring)… Add that all to the fact that the guy is actually accurate in a lot of what he says about the NBA and it’s current state could very well translate to success in a GM job… They’ve tried the, “I’m an old veteran, hall of fame player would thought he could run a team and failed at that” angle… Why not try something new? He said he’d even work for free for the 1st year and I’m sure if he failed, he would admit his failure and move on… And by the way, have you asked, What if it works? I mean honestly, how much worse could it get? The team financially is ready to fold up… and I for one haven’t supported it for 8 years, with Simmons, I might actually care again.
And to compare Matt Millen to Simmons is a stretch… Millen was commentator on football, he didn’t write thousands of articles concerning aspects of the NFL, what he would do if he ran an NFL team, how he would draft, player evaluation, etc, etc…. maybe if he had done any of that, Detroit would have realized and never hired him… and I think if Simmons failed for X amount of years in a row, he’d kick himself in the head and fire his own a$$.
It’s hilarious that some people are actually offended at the idea of Bill Simmons being the Wolves’ GM. Daryl Morey had no GM experience when the Rockets hired him and it’s working out well for them. I think something like 4 out of 5 GMs could be considered failures, so all you people with your crystal balls predicting that Bill Simmons wouldn’t be a successful GM aren’t exactly making bold statements. Yeah, the odds are he would fail as Wolves’ GM. Just because it’s unconventional doesn’t mean it couldn’t work, though.
What exactly qualifies someone to be a GM? Knowledge about the game and understanding how salaries work. It’s not exactly landing on the Hudson, but those in the loop would like you to think so. Break up the country club and get an outsider in here!
My pick for the next Wild coach:
http://www.thecraigshow.com/?p=275
There’s a huge difference between being an NBA GM and running an NFL personnel department, even bigger than the difference in roster size. In basketball, the best players are on display. Maybe it’s hard to figure out exactly who will succeed at the highest level, but everyone who plays well in the NBA played well in college, or high school, or Europe at some point. In the NFL, how exactly do you tell who the best right guard is in college football?
There are plenty of NBA teams who’ve hired GMs from virtually no experience. Mostly, they’re just ex-players. What to players know about scouting talent? Honestly, I bet they know less than sportswriters.
Decisions made by the Timberwolves’ front office during the next (60) days will set the stage for the next decade. This is not a time for shallow games.
To claim Matt Millen is simply a “media guy” moving to the front office ignores the truth that the guy was, first and foremost, a former player in the NFL, which is exactly what Simmons (along with many others, to be sure) points out time after time.
Kevin McHale, Isiah Thomas, Elgin Baylor, Michael Jordan. The list is long, but those are a few great player whose success has not translated to the front office.
Millen was certainly not handed the reins simply on the grounds of his media work, but the fact he was a former player. The NBA is clearly no different, and is possibly even worse given its penchant for trying failed execs over and over and over again. The Wolves could do worse than hiring Bill Simmons. And they will when they hire some random exec from another team.
If you look at Bill Simmons’ diaries, he would have taken Emeka Okafor over Dwight Howard and Jay Williams over Yao Ming. He also loved Adam Morrison. My point: Everyone can make a draft projection. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they aren’t It doesn’t mean you should be a GM.
Anyone who has read Bill Simmons knows that he knows more than almost all current NBA GMs. If you don’t read his stuff, shut the $*%# up because you have no idea what you are talking about.
Examples of Simmons’ predictions:
Durant will be better than Oden
Roy will be the best player in that draft
No! No members of the media running sports teams please. I do not want the Detroit Lions part two. Thank you very much.
OK i’ll come clean..I don’t give a #@$% about NBA. Do what you will Twolves 
BILL SIMMONZ IZ A PART OF DA LIBERAL MEDIA! HE IZ A LOUDMAWF! MATT MILLEN SUXORS!!!!! FOOTBAWL AND BASKETSBALL IZ DA SAME THING!
I am not saying he couldn’t succeed I am just saying doesn’t he need some seasoning, even as an assistant GM. I also think this is too important decision to give it to Simmons, that doesn’t mean they won’t screw it up anyway but I just can’t see him being taken seriously.
If the wolves hire simmons i would start going to games again, he is the best and his ideas on how to run a fanchise are unparalled
I bet I could be GM of that crapsquad. What would I do in the 2009 draft? Trade away EVERY SINGLE pick because not a single game changing player is in this draft. Should I apply?
I might even think about going to a game if they hired Simmons.
For those of you who seriously think a sports writer should be hired as the T-Wolves’ GM … Sid Hartman was once the Minneapolis Lakers GM (equivalent) as well. Need I say more???
SK77 is exactly why this teams sucks, no guts, hes happy with the status quo. “Some assistant GM would be better”, are you serious? Just like recycling the same coaches who lose year after year? You probably thought Theo Epstein was a stupid hire, what does some punk kid no about being a major league baseball GM, blah, blah, blah. Get a clue. You want young people who are hungry and want to prove something, not a Mike Dunlevy who’s just there to collect a check.
DLF,
Sid Hartman was indeed the GM for the Minneapolis Lakers. As a matter of fact, I believe he was a cog in what eventually became the first NBA dynasty. So no, you do not need to say more.
give me Chris Wrights e-mail and will be 1301. Nothing to lose!!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=95405662570
Join the group.
Lets get him!
Whoa whoa Mike S., its not that I am happy with the status quo, I am just saying that Simmons has no experience and it would be a risk, if you would compare an assistant GM he would have more of a track record, a writer has a track record too, but its different making the decisions versus writing about them.
I totally agree that it would bring more national recognition to the wolves. However, most of the recognition would be for BS and not the team itself. I’m not sure how that would work. Plus as much as i admire BS and i’m a regular listener to his podcast, and read his columns on a regular basis, there’s a huge difference when u play free online poker and when u actually have to play with real money… if you guys see what i mean…
