A personal message from David Kahn
Posted on May 22nd, 2009 – 10:51 AMBy Jerry Zgoda
Like you, new Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn has been reading this blog as the team’s search for a new guy to replace Kevin McHale progressed. He asked me to pass along this note he wrote last night before today’s noon press conference that will introduce him.
To Wolves Fans Everywhere:
I love your passion.
I know you want to be proud of this team.
And I know, most of all, you want to win.
I plan on spending the next several years of my life with those same objectives in mind – namely, making this a championship-contending team. I can’t promise perfection, but I can promise that nobody will outwork or outthink us as we build what I hope will be among the best front offices in the league and a team that begins a climb to the top.
We have a couple significant pieces on the team already, and a lot of flexibility (as much as any team in the league), so now it’s time to deliver. Starting this summer, and through the following summer, I expect to start accumulating more talent through every available means – the draft, free agency and trades. I expect a lot of myself, and I will expect everybody in basketball operations to work relentlessly alongside me.
I’m a lawyer, journalist, entrepreneur and more, but at my core I’m a basketball person — a former General Manager with day-to-day oversight of basketball operations for a perennial playoff team, working under one of the finest persons in the sport, Donnie Walsh. My relationships in all my previous endeavors are basketball-oriented. I have spent 24 years in, or on the periphery, of the NBA and have done everything from make trades to sign players to identify and hire coaches. I’ve served for three years on the NBA Competition Committee, which includes only the highest-ranking basketball persons.
I know some of you have worried here that I’ve been “away” for about five years, since I left the Pacers in 2004, about four months before the infamous brawl. Not to worry. My company owned four NBA D-League teams the last four years, and that meant seeing a ton of players in person who are now rotation players in our league. It meant hiring nine coaches, from Sam Vincent to Quin Snyder to Michael Cooper to Jay Humphries. It meant constantly working on coach and player matters. So, I really never left.
That doesn’t mean I’m as ready today as I will be on June 25 for the draft. The current staff will stay in place through at least July to help prepare for this draft and for free agency. I told each staffer Wednesday night, when I spoke to them on the phone, that I’m looking forward to watching them work, in this new environment, these next five weeks. This is the best time of year for us – it was always the highlight of my year with the Pacers.
When I went to law school, I never intended to practice law. I did it to become an NBA front-office person in basketball. My time in Indiana prepared me for this moment – Donnie Walsh allowed me the freedom to work in all areas of the franchise. I managed the cap, talked to Donnie every day about trades and player personnel, and then sometimes made the trades with his approval.
You may have also heard that Donnie allowed me to be the team’s point person for the design, development and marketing of Conseco Fieldhouse. To this day, most NBA persons consider the fieldhouse the finest arena ever built. I helped lead a team of people who were driven to deliver a product that was second to none. We worked 24/7 to make that building like none other in the world.
The Timberwolves now become my latest project. As with Conseco Fieldhouse, there will be no settling for run-of-the-mill, or even second best. I’m interested only in special.
I look forward to winning you over during the days, weeks and months ahead.
Regards,
David Kahn
55 Responses to "A personal message from David Kahn"
Time is of the essence Mr. Kahn.
forgot to add…”I also will bring a pair of knee pads along for my meetings with Mr. Taylor.”
This “letter” reads like a Saturday Night Live skit.
So this guy’s company owned four D-League teams? Wow. Great. I’m so freaking excited. Can’t wait to see the “tons” of D-League talent that will soon wear T-wolves blue!
“We’re comin’, we’re comin’!”
And speaking of D-League teams: now Mr. Kahn gets to run one instead of owning one.
A Timberwolves announcement at noon? Yawn.
Actually, I’m impressed by what he wrote and that he took the time to send that out. Time will tell if he can deliver…
I appreciate that Kahn seems to recognize that there is a skeptical fanbase. That’s a good start.
I’ll give him credit for making the case directly and engaging Jerry. The moves this summer that lead to the team on the court will speak for themselves though.
The roster flexibility has been a long time coming, hopefully it is used wisely.
Welcome aboard Mr. Kahn. I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do to get this thing turned around.
Kaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhn!!!!!
I have to admit I found the letter promising. I’m looking forward to seeing what Mr. Kahn can do. What other choice do we have at this point?
Having attended the Big 10 Tourney at Conseco this year, I can attest to the fact that it’s a fantastic facility.
One question I have, and Mr. Zgoda, maybe you could ask this if you get the chance, is Mr. Kahn planning on incorporating some advanced statistical analysis into the front office? I’d love to see us hire someone away from Daryl Morey’s crew to help us move into the 21st century on this. I’d certainly offer my own assistance if they’d be interested. It seems like this is something that could happen prior to the draft in order to assist further in the draft analysis.
I was somewhat sold until the words “latest project”. So, the Wolves are just a hobby of his until something more shiny and bright comes along?
Jason - it’s accurate… this is his latest project. What do you want him to call it?
Would you have been more satisfied if he said that his boyhood dream from the age of 7 was to eventually run the pro basketball franchise that would some day be placed in Minneapolis, MN?
I have to give him credit. How often do you have a GM send a letter to a Blog to address the fans. I don’t know if I have ever seen it. I have to admit I was very skeptical at first and still am pretty skeptical…but I think he is getting started on the right foot. Keep up the great work Mr Kahn.
The only thing I continue to say about David Kahn is that he deserves a fair shake. It’s only fair to judge him on his own merits and not in comparison of what your opinion may be of the other candidates. He’s not Tom Penn. He’s not Dennis Lindsey. He’s not Randy Pfund. He’s not Jerry West.
Judge him based on his own merits and what he does in the next 2-3 years with The Timberwolves.
I am impressed. He has the incentive to do well here. Hopefully he is truly unfettered to make changes
Props to Kahn for being proactive and reaching us blog readers first. Good sign.
Fans? Plural? Kahn has a lot to learn.
Mr.Kahn,
Welcome to Minnesota. For better or worse you are now on our team. I wish for your success.
Number one issue for me is what kind of Front Office team you assemble. Talent evaluation is a key concern - but not less than a strategic plan for team direction.
What will the Wolves look like and who’s vision will direct it. we are two years into “the new wolves” - sans KG and I hope you will come in to help build on some of existing pieces and not with a start-over “Kahn vision” that you bring with you. Childress and the Wilfs seem to think “they know best” and not only don’t share their thinking, they seem oblivious to the fact that Wisconsin is our chief state rival and are intent on using Green Bay/Madison resources to develop the Vikiing brand.
I hope you will find people to help right the “Minnesota brand” and not impose your own predilictions (west coast, NBDA or - god forbid, David Stern thinking) Mix a hot shot talent evaluator as well as a creative deal-doer in on a consulting basis (NDA required) til free agency is resolved. Then pick a (FO)team that can bring competence and cohesiveness to the long term success of this franchise.
Its not about you. We don’t need your mark on this, just your stewardship. Maybe your wife’s brand building expertise can help you create a “Minnesota solution” and not a Kahn solution. “Hard work” would be a key brand element: musselman, corbin, mitchell, porter, KG, sealey, gomes all were the kind of players that met with community success and respect. A little athleticism wouldn’t hurt either. rider, laettner etc were not a fit.
Hoping for your success.
He sounds like a good guy, ready to get to work.
He’s right about there being some nice pieces on the team, and the cap flexibility. The team may not be good now, but if Kahn and company can hit on a few draft picks, and maybe make a good trade, the Wolves could be competitive again sooner than some think.
He sounds more like Chaka Khan than Genghis Khan.
Mr. Kahn look into what Ramon Sessions wants in contract terms. This would free up or at least make a PG not an ‘essential’ pick in this draft leaving SG open with the top pick and then taking the best available with the later picks.
I think Sessions would be reasonable and take 2y/5M or 3/6.
Best of luck to ya.
Give ‘em a chance, people. We can turn on him in a few weeks. Ha!
I’m just glad that people with some form of intelligence started leaving there opinion. A guy comes on this blog to shed some much needed light into the situation, and people leave comments about knee pads? Wow. I love the Wolves and love basketball. Therefore am 100% behind you Mr. Kahn and hope you the best. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to earn my respect, but of course I’m rooting for him! He seems very intelligent, he has connections, and everyone’s biggest shot they would take at McHale was that he didn’t give the job his all. I’m not worried about that being the case here.
Yeah.. yeah.. yeah.. Heard the samething like this after, Flip, Casey, and Whittman got fired. Heard the same thing in the past 3 drafts, heard the samething after KG got traded. Truth is as long as Taylor and McHale are still on the same payroll, ain’t much going to happend. Fans should only expect “More of the same”.
Arenal - I REALLY like Sessions… as a 6th man. Above all, we need a lock-down defender at PG… here’s hoping for Jrue Holiday.
People talk about Hasheem Thabeet being able to have a big, immediate impact on defense. The same is absolutely true about Jrue Holiday. 30 minutes per game of Jrue Holiday will immediately result in our team defense allowing opponents 5-10 fewer points per game.
The first order of business should be to get rid of McHale….that would do wonders for reviving the Wolves fan base.
I also found this to be a nice gesture and an encouraging sign that this guy might actually know how to connect with fans.
And, like most attorneys, he’s not lacking self-confidence.
Classy and smart letter to the fans. Kudos Mr. Kahn.
Wolves fans have been disappointed for so many summers in a row that we’ve almost come to dread the draft and free agency.
“Will it be Foye for Roy, or a #1 pick + Cassell for Jaric this year?”
Please do everything you can to improve the talent base, both now and in the future (ie don’t trade picks like cotton candy a la McHale).
Also, please don’t trade all our assets for mediocre veterans so we can be an #8 seed in the playoffs for a few years in the row. We have *way* too much experience with that.
Thanks again for reaching out to us.
Just a brief note to welcome Mr. Kahn to the Twin Cities. I am certain that he does not need our input to convince him that there is significant work ahead. I am eager to wait/see what Mr. Kahn has in store for the organization. In the meantime … I would implore Mr. Taylor to cease micro-managing and simply provide Mr. Kahn with the resources necessary to accomplish the task at hand. As with any other employee … results can be evaluated via an annual Performance Evaluation.
Kaaaaaaaahhhnnnn!
This was definitely a very smart move and tells me alot about you Mr. Kahn. Very classy to acknowledge upfront that your reception has been met with less than enthusiastic response. Myself being one of them. I am very easily won over though by sincerity, honesty, hard work and above all…results. While we may not have liked the “process” that our owner went through, we will all be willing to give you every opportunity to prove yourself.
Thank you for showing all of us a thing or two about what your made of. I for one really appreciate it.
FYI… press-conference going on right now on KFAN.
Any chance he’ll have a say in the television broadcast team? Hanneman is the worst PBP announcer I’ve ever heard. He sounds like an intern.
I’m on the “give the guy a chance” side of the argument, and I appreciate Mr. Kahn’s letter. That said, I can’t say I was comforted to learn that he hired Quin Snyder.
He came to the right place to find special.
Now hopefully he can chamge it from the short bus kind of special it is now, to a championship kind of special that the fans of this team deserve.
I have to admit, after reading the blogs yesterday I was kind of upset as to why they would hire Kahn. After reading his post, it gives me some hope that maybe the Twolves won’t do as poorly as they have done in the past! Also since he was recommended by David Stern, maybe our luck in future NBA draft lotteries will mysteriously get better!
Speaking of short bus, I meant CHANGE with an N.
I don’t know if Kahn will succeed or not but I’m listening to his press conference and I’m VERY impressed. Just a sharp, honest, straight shooter.
Again, doesn’t mean this will work, but he sure comes across well when speaking.
It will all be about results and that’s all that will sell me on Kahn or anybody else. But I will say this… he is completely oozing of the following traits in his press conference:
1. Intelligence
2. Control
3. Confidence
4. Hard Work
5. Knowledge
6. Leadership
Anybody who still has a beef with Kahn needs to find this press conference online later today and watch/listen to it. If you’re not willing to at least listen to the press conference and learn about what Kahn is all about, then you’re not even giving the guy and chance. And in that case, you’re just a hater who we shouldn’t bother listening to on this board.
Aren’t the Pacers in complete financial ruin because of Conseco Fieldhouse? I don’t know if I would be bragging about being the mastermind behind that project.
Foo
You obviously didn’t know Kahn’s reputation coming in. Everybody says he is very well spoken and self confident. Unfortunatley so are door to door salesmen which he is often compared to. He is also said to be very hard to work with and for.
I wish him all the best but this hiring has bust written all over it.
I agree with what Foo said. The presser was impressive.
New thread is going…
Don’t forget, most people thought Tim Brewster oozed the following in his first press conferences:
1. Intelligence
2. Control
3. Confidence
4. Hard Work
5. Knowledge
6. Leadership
And he’s turned out to be a complete dog.
So, anyway - I support Kahn because he’s experienced and he’s from outside the state/outside the team. Two good steps forward.
As stated by someone else earlier, I appreciate the fact he recognizes that this team is in the toilet right now PR wise. I hope he is able to fix that and the only way to do so is to get talent in here (on and off the court) and win. Mr. Kahn - good luck!
Royal - YOU SIR ARE AN IDIOT! Tim Brewster is twice the man you will ever be. Keep taking cheap shots while hiding behind a computer screen. He is taking the Golden Gopher football program in the RIGHT direction - finally someone is doing it after all of these years. The Gopher football program will be playing in a New Year’s Day bowl game very, very soon. Mark my words.
Screw Becky Badger & Screw the Iowa Hogeyes!
Ski-U-Mah! Go Gophers!
Mr. Kahn,
Pick Evans if on the board at #6. He has size, ball handling, and can get to the basket better than anyone in this draft. He played great in the tournment and was not afraid to take big shots in important games. He needs to work on his jump shot and reduce his turnovers but I believe as he matures he will get better in both.
give the guy a chance, he does have many years of experience, its easy easy to hate on someone you dont know i guess, i bet the majority of people on here dont know anything about this guy. Listen, the wolves are a work in progress, they are building a team, look at the next 2 years….5 first round picks, millions and millions of the books by 2010, they will have seriously about $30mil to spend if they want to in free agency in 2010, they have said in the past they are hoping to land a bigtime free agent in 2010, my hope would be d-wade, and yes he would leave miami for the money and an oppertunity to win a title, plus if big al was healthy all year, we most likely would have had about 10 more wins, then all of a sudden they dont look too aweful, hire sam mitchell or flip to coach, and by 2010 season, the wolves will be solid.
[…] On the Wolves – […]
Minnesota still has an NBA team?
A letter to Mr. Kahn,
Please, please, please do not blow this. You have a lot to work with in this franchise, and it’s time to use all of its assets. Timberwolves fans can’t hold on to the little dignity they have left for much longer.
Your letter to the fan is much appreciated, and if you mean what you say about being something special, you have to come out and make your first few decisions correctly.
Everybody currently with the Timberwolves organization (with the exception of maybe Hoiberg if you so choose) has to go. They’ve proved time and time again that they are incapable of running an NBA franchise. Please do not come out soft, like Mr. Taylor.
If you come into the organization, uproot everybody, and fill spots with your own team of hardworking basketball execs with good minds, I believe that everything you said about where the Timberwolves are headed can be true. If you keep the current staff and coach, I can’t imagine a single scenario in which the organization flourishes.
I wish you the best, and hope that you take this bit of advice that is echoed by nearly every Timberwolves fan. I hope to be buying playoff tickets in the near future.
Sincerely,
The Sandwich
gotta give him a chance but nobody is forcing anyone to be a fan soif you don’t like it see ya!!!!!
I think he’s a beast and bulldog… For once it felt like he really gots our back…he doesnt seem like a push over either….i think he’s gonna shake it up. Can’t Wait….
Can’t wait to see him change our luck!!!!!
I LOVE YOU MAN!
“The Gopher football program will be playing in a New Year’s Day bowl game very, very soon.”
Oh my.
Gotta hand it to the guy for reaching out to the fans. I’m pretty excited to see what he can do.
