Kahn and McHale meet for a third time, expect a decision this week
Posted on June 8th, 2009 – 10:21 PMBy Jerry Zgoda
New Wolves boss David Kahn and Kevin McHale today met at length for a third time to discuss the team’s coaching job.
Looks like there will be a decision made on McHale’s future with the franchise by the end of the week at the latest.
Kahn last week asked us media types to give him some quiet time to decide the matter because he considered the attention generated by the two men’s first two meetings over dinner created what he called an undesirable “breathless, moment-by-moment” situation.
I sent him a text message tonight and asked if he was passing behind the moon for a prolonged period of radio silence and if a decision might come this week.
His response simply was: “Shhh.”
This third meeting came this afternoon and wasn’t over dinner.
Here’s my take on the situation, and it’s only my opinion based on my instincts and nothing else:
I considered the first two meetings a courtesy call by Kahn. I presumed Kahn doesn’t want to be seen as the guy who summarily dismissed a Minnesota basketball playing legend and the guy who led the Wolves basketball operations for 14 years.
When it went to today’s third meeting, I started to have my doubts and thought McHale will return — and he still certainly might — but I’ll stick to my initial instincts:
I just can’t see a guy hired to lead the franchise anew with fresh eyes taking on a fellow who casts such a long shadow in the organization, who is used to picking up the telephone and calling owner Glen Taylor anytime he wants something done. If Kahn is going to remake the franchise, you’d think he’d want to start with his own stamp on the organization by picking his own coach.
If McHale does not return, then who will coach the Wolves? Well, Sam Mitchell certainly is a possibility. Avery Johnson or Jeff Van Gundy perhaps could be convinced to come back to coaching, but it’d take some persuasion and a lot of money. Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau, a Wolves assistant so long ago, is perhaps the league’s top assistant coach candidate.
The problem with guessing who Kahn would choose if it’s not McHale is this: He hasn’t been associated with an NBA team since 2004, so it’s hard to trace his family tree.
But here’s a wild guess that might not be as far-fetched as it seems:
Mike Fratello, the Czar of the Telestrator.
Fratello has coached 15-plus NBA seasons (a 667 - 552 record) with Atlanta, Cleveland and Memphis — most recently with the Grizzlies in 2006 — and was part of NBC’s broadcast team when Kahn worked on the network’s “Showtime” pre-game show in the early 1990s.
If Kahn wants to roll the dice and dip into his NBA Development League roots for a fresh NBA face, he could consider former Missouri Tigers coach Quin Snyder, who won the D League’s “Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year” award for this past season.
Kahn has known Snyder for 16 years, since Snyder was a young assistant for Larry Brown with the Clippers. He was the guy who aimed Snyder toward coaching the Austin Toros team Kahn owned before he sold it to the San Antonio Spurs.
249 Responses to "Kahn and McHale meet for a third time, expect a decision this week"
Jerry, I hope you’re right. Even if McHale is a good coach, lets just get a fresh start with this team with some new faces in the front office and go from there.
I would hope that the fact that Kahn hasn’t been associated with an NBA team since 2004 would lead him to new horizons rather than choosing someone from his outdated family tree.
I’m still up for talking about the Euros and those 2nd round picks too. . .
Please no re-treads.
How about Mark Jackson or as I stated before Tom Thibodeau
Jerry - Let me get Kahn’s number, I will text him myself.
I don’t know, I think a young group like this needs a veteran coach, not a guy trying to figure it out for the first time just like they are. Which, by definition, would mean a “re-tread.” Tom Thibodeau has paid his dues, but not sure how he’d do if he can’t bring KG’s defense with him.
Just a minute, pmac…lemme get that number for you.
I think that’s a good point though. Thibodeau is too much of a risk, an uncertainty. If we get a good point guard, I wouldn’t mind seeing Avery Johnson be the one to try and develop him. As a fresh face for dallas, he almost took them all the way.
I hope they leave the Czar in the broadcast booth. He and Marv Albert are one of the top broadcasting teams of the past 20 years. I’m also not impressed with the style of play he carved out in Memphis and Cleveland.
Fratello is sooooo boring.
Is there anything to that Jerry or are you just connecting dots?
Sam Mitchell. Get it done Kahn. Then draft Tyler Hansbrough.
McHale gets 3-year contract extension with Flip money. Jerry, you are so far off this story…
I totally agree with Greg regarding the Czar. Also not a fan of Van Gundy. I could live with Avery Johnson if you want experience.
You might be right, Marty McFly, but why would you give a guy who has only shown he can motivate players for a partial season — not coach a full training camp and full season, let alone three full seasons — three years at “Flip money”? Flip coached more than a decade with two teams to get that. Mac might get it, but he hasn’t earned that kind of money, not by a long shot. Btw, this isn’t a story, it’s just my opinion of the way I see it based on what seems to me to be common sense. But, since these are the Wolves, common sense probably doesn’t have anything to do with anything.
“His response simply was: “Shhh.””
Man Kahn is uniquely obnoxious. My sympathies on having to interact with this douche, Jerry.
Criostoir, absolutely, positively nothing to it, just connecting the dots and looking for relationships that might have bearing on Kahn’s decision if McHale doesn’t return.
One other thing: Kahn commented at his introductory press conference on being impressed with how Mac still had his guys playing hard late in the season in a meaningless game against Denver that Kahn attended. All those players were brought here by McHale and as far as I can tell, they all feel a real allegiance to him. What happens when Kahn begins to re-shape this roster — and he says it will look remarkably different within 17 months — with his own players? How will McHale’s motivation play to those guys who don’t feel the same way about him? He strikes me as a very good people manager and motivator, but not an astute tactical coach (that’s not his training or background). I’m just not sure how he’ll play to a remade roster that doesn’t feel they owe him anything.
That’s what I’ve been saying Jerry.
Look at Kevin Love. Does he like being here? Yes. Why? BECAUSE OF MCHALE. That’s his enthusiasm. How much will he like being here if McHale leaves? And better yet, why should that even matter?
I no way should McHale be kept around just because the current roster likes him. The current roster is uncompetitive, and not likely to stay intact very long. I’m hope Kahn makes good on the promise to overhaul it like it needs to be, and like Jerry said, it’ll be with guys McHale didn’t hand pick, so they won’t feel any extra obligations to him. And worst case, the guys who do stick around might end up at odds with the new acquisitions, if they don’t pander to Mac the way the guys we have now do.
But please, not Fratello. Sam Mitchell is my choice. Thibodeau intrigues me, but like Jerry, I’m wary about how his defense would work without the kind of players he’s accustomed to. Hiring him would almost obligate us to move up and draft Thabeet.
Mitchell seems like the logical choice to me…he’s had success, he has an even demeanor, he’s a teaching coach, and he’s very popular.
I think Love will be happy so long as he has easy access to pastries.
As for Mitchell I don’t know how wise it would be to pair a guy notorious for not being able to control his emotions with a young roster. Maybe we can look forward to him challenging Jennings to a fist fight.
?? I’ve never heard of Mitchell losing his temper.
Mitchell challenged Rafer Alston to a fist fight during practice. There’s a reference to it here:
http://thehoopdoctors.com/online2/2008/04/is-timing-everything-for-raptors-coach-sam-mitchell/
But if you google around you’ll find more reports about it.
[…] On the Wolves – […]
What does McHale have on Taylor to still even be considered to coach the wolves…personally, I think McHale’s already been choosen and there just hammering out the details on a three year flip like contract. I also think he’ll get fired after the first year and sit two years collecting a fat paycheck.
I agree with Jerry in that Kahn probably wanted to jettison McHale early and was just going through the motions. Then he found that maybe this guy might be a good coach..and now he’s struggling with the decision.
Just my guess.
I have no idea who’d be a good coach for this team: just not Fratello.
The other thing that has to be factored in is how McHale will feel about coaching guys he hasn’t selected. If Kahn moves one of Kevin’s pet projects, how does McHale react to that?
But Kahn really needs to stay away from the Mike Fratello/Doug Collins broadcaster/coach revolving door. Snyder or someone out of D-League is far more compelling than going the retread route.
Oh, McHale will be back. Because it is clear that was the condition that Kahn had in coming to the Wolves. Make it work with McHAle.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a coach out of the D-League. Hell, we got Kahn out of nowhere, why not a coach too? I have no idea why but I don’t feel like Mitchel is the answer
Mitchell sounds good to me. Former coach of the year and has some history here, nothing wrong with that move.
No Mitchell !
I am very skeptical about either D-League coaches, or assistant coaches w/o head coaching experience. Disaster waiting to happen.
I was brainstorming, and wonder if something could we worked out 3-way with the Knicks and Wiz for the draft. Knicks want to move up, Wiz want to move down. Maybe something like Knicks get 5 (Curry), Wolves get 8, Wiz get 18. Hughes to Wiz, Cardinal/Madsen/Craig Smith to Knicks, Etan Thomas + spare parts to Wolves.
Yes Mitchell!!!!
Noooooooooo !
Bad bad bad bad choice. Would be fired halfway through season 2.
I genuinely don’t think anyone would be mentioning Mitchell had he not played here. He’s not well thought of around the league and nobody is falling all over themselves to give him a second gig for a reason.
How about double T as coach? If they go the former broadcaster route for the coach Trent Tucker is my pick.
He’d have the instant respect of the players because he’s done it in the league himself and look at what he did for Kris Humphries game. . .
I really don’t see the Coach of the Year award as validating someone as a great coach. It typically goes to the coach whose team outperformed expectations, not to the best coach that year. Avery Johnson won the award only 4 years ago and isn’t even getting interviews now. Does that mean he is a horrible coach? No, but him having won the award clearly doesn’t make him anyone’s top candidate.
I’m still up in the air about Mitchell. You can’t deny his leadership capabilities but I don’t know if he’s the right person to develop our young guys. I’ve read some criticisms of his coaching and that was one of the main areas he fell short in.
I genuinely don’t think anyone would be mentioning Mitchell had he not played here. He’s not well thought of around the league and nobody is falling all over themselves to give him a second gig for a reason.
Provide some proof not innuendo.
Stoyko - Look at rumor pages…his name doesn’t even get mentioned there.
LOL, what rumor pages? Be more specific and get out of here with that weak stuff.
This is a rumor page and he is getting mentioned LOL.
Pfffffttttttt…go to ANY of the pooled newspaper article sites and you’ll see the only time he is mentioned is here…nobody else wants him.
This is a complete darkhorse and someone I wouldn’t recommend but I bet he brings in Chuck Persons for an interview. This is just a guess, but someone Kahn at least has past history with.
Again, I would not support this, but if you’re looking for someone with a connection.
People complain about the “country club” atmosphere that Taylor has continually promoted over the years but then suggest hiring Sam Mitchell? Isn’t that a little hypocritical?
Personally I don’t think Sam Mitchell would be a good choice, but I guess it depends on what type of team Kahn is trying to build.
I’m not sure there are really any candidates that stand out at this time.
Matt - Interesting trade. The Wizards would also have to send Mike James somewhere for the salaries to match up and I don’t want to get Swan started so I won’t suggest he comes here. The whole trade would hinge on who badly the Knicks want Curry. They would probably let Hughes walk at the end of year anyways so that wouldn’t be a giant loss so it would come down to whether they want him so badly that they wouldn’t want to wait until 8 to find out. The Knicks are also looking to get a late 1st/early 2nd rounder.
Washington gets:
#18 Pick
Larry Hughes
New York gets:
#5 Pick
#28 Pick
Mike James
Mark Madsen
Craig Smith
Minnesota gets:
#8 Pick
Etan Thomas
This might be considered fantasy-esque I know, but I’m equally tired of the McHale/Kahn situation.
Just an FYI…
There is ZERO chance of that trade happening. The #5 pick is worth more than that.
Y’all are forgetting about me! I had this team at .500 with a collection of mutts that McHale tossed together. I wasn’t in the Country Club and got backstabbed all the way back to the Pacific Northwest.
At least I did better than the guy that canned me. Heh. Give me some talent and I’ll show y’all.
If you guys want to see some workouts, I found some on the Knicks blog (sorry Jerry).
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/blog/
Curry’s shot is so amazing. He’s going to be a big star.
You’ll never get Avery Johnson or Jeff Van Gundy to coach in Minnesota. Sam Mitchell is the likely choice even if it’s not the best choice. If Kahn retains McHale, the team might as well move to Seattle where people actually care about pro basketball because so few people will show up for Wolves games next season that they’ll have to put a curtain up in the upper deck to get rid of those unsightly empty seats.
Why would we want to spend the kind of money that would be required to bring in Jeff Van Gundy? He didn’t do a very good job in Houston, and his style of play doesn’t seem terribly suited to the personnel currently in place here.
We should hire Christian Laettner to be our next coach…he’s a winner, you know. He even said so.
Coach Casey, we haven’t forgotten you. Your firing is just too sad to remember.
I like the Fratello idea. Look at how good his record is given the lousy places he’s coached. And his experience isn’t primarily here. I like Sam Mitchell–we all do–but if we’re looking for fresh blood, he’s not it. I’m not crazy about Fratello’s style (Wittman was a defensive coach and look where that got him with this bunch) but he’d be a firm hand on the rudder.
And he’s not with Marv Albert anyway, he’s languishing on ESPN.
If we packaged 18 and 28 what’s the highest we could move up? It’s not like the NBA has a draft pick value scale like the NFL. I’m guessing in the 12 range, but maybe that’s too high?
I don’t really think packaging #18 and #28 to move up is feasible unless other pieces are included. The #28 pick isn’t very attractive.
I’m just wondering what 18 and 28 would be worth, not looking for a realistic trade option. On the 28 pick, I keep hearing that teams are interested in moving down or gaining additional picks in the lower part of the round.
“and he says it will look remarkably different within 17 months ”
Any ideas on what will be the most surprising difference in 17 months?
The team will call Seattle home??
I think the #18 and #28 pick could move them up to maybe #13 or #14.
People need to get Seattle out of their heads…thats not a possible location.
Interesting piece at ESPN.com:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/news/story?id=4221335
They rank the teams on their drafting since ‘89. The Wolves are 19th and get a C-. Indiana, the team from which our new leader sprung, scored a D.
Take into account the Pacers were one of the better teams in the league over that period of time and had late 1st round draft picks.
Thanks jama. What I’m getting at is that as we get closer to the draft, I don’t see Maynor being there at 18 and don’t like the Collison idea (don’t we already have a good backup PG?) or any of the other PGs that should be on the board at that point (Teague, Lawson, Mills). If they go SG at 6 they’re going to have to trade up if they want a PG.
Holiday (mock drafts have him all over the place lately), Jennings, Maynor, and possibly even Flynn could be available in the early teens.
Jama you are the biggest hypocrite here, got any more blanket statements you are going to throw out like the wolves are now way drafting 3 in the first round? Or some lame Kevin Love trades? Your lack of knowledge is astounding. And Swan I am still waiting for specifics rather than you Pffft “pool sites”. Laughable.
Lol you and Jama are real pieces of oh well you know the rest. Here is some “specific” knowledge rather than imaginary garbage that you 2 post.
With three first-round picks, Timberwolves have options
By Art Garcia, NBA.com
Posted Jun 8 2009 6:21AM
The Timberwolves head into the Draft with plenty of questions and a number of holes to fill. The situation isn’t ideal for a franchise that’s missed the Playoffs the last five years, has a new general manager, hasn’t settled its coaching situation and is hoping potential All-Star Al Jefferson recovers from major knee surgery.
The task to turn Minnesota into a contender again appears daunting, but the team isn’t without options. The Wolves own three first-round picks, including sixth overall, another two in the second round and gameplan for the next 18 months or so.
New general manager David Kahn, hired in May, understands the need to explore every angle in an attempt to kick start the struggling franchise. It all starts June 25.
“I see this as the first step,” said Kahn, a longtime pro basketball insider with NBA and D-League experience. “We’ll have free agency this summer. Trades can occur as part of the draft or in free agency, we have the trading deadline next February, next year’s draft with two [first-round] picks in all likelihood and free agency next summer.
“This draft is the first opportunity with all the roster flexibility we have to start determining how we can improve this team in short order.”
Kahn won’t use the draft as a deadline to decide the team’s coaching direction. He’s met on several occasions with Kevin McHale, who led the Wolves to a 20-43 record last season after being forced out of the front office. Kahn could retain McHale or bring in a new staff.
In either case, it won’t impact the team’s draft strategy.
“I remember when I was at Indiana for nine years there were at least two occasions where we didn’t hire a coach until well after the draft,” Kahn said. “One can make an argument, and I’m not playing it this way, but since we have so many picks and might change some things, you figure that out first and then find the coach piece because maybe the personnel will dictate the decision. We are not playing it that way. I assure you. I’m just pointing out that you can look at it a couple different ways.”
Most draft projections have the Wolves taking a guard with their first pick. Among those that could be available when their turn comes up: Stephon Curry (Davidson), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse), Tyreke Evans (Memphis), DeMar DeRozan (USC) and Brandon Jennings.
“There are a lot of guards that will go in that 4-10 range,” Kahn said. “I would say of those seven picks, I wouldn’t be surprised if five or six of them will turn out to be guards.”
But the GM isn’t tied into taking another body to work into the team’s thin backcourt. Minnesota could use a serous infusion of talent to the current crop of guards that include Randy Foye, Mike Miller and Sebastian Telfair. The frontcourt, other than Jefferson, also needs work.
“Other than the power forward spot, we need players at every position,” Kahn said. “I don’t think the concept of best player available and drafting for need will be mutually exclusive for us this year. We should be able to go both ways.”
Kahn added that it’s also not necessary to land a ready-made rotation piece at No. 6. The Wolves aren’t looking for the quick fix. Players with high ceilings will be given the chance to develop, he said.
“You don’t want to take the quick-impact player if you’re really turning down the opportunity to take somebody who will truly be special,” Kahn explained. “But if the impact player is also fairly skilled, then you have to weight it back and forth.
“Clearly we would love to have someone who can help us fairly soon. We could use the help, but I don’t think we would go so far as make a blanket statement that we’ll take an impact player.”
The Wolves also have the 18th and 28th picks in the first round. Kahn sees value throughout the first round, dismissing the notion that the talent pool is shallow.
“I’ve heard that, too, but I think that sense is beginning to dissipate a bit as people to see these kids work out,” he said. “It’s deeper than first met the eye. If this is a weak draft, we sure are hearing from a lot of teams that want to buy one or more of our picks. That doesn’t add up if it’s such a weak draft. Time will tell how we compare. I look at the board and I think, especially at 18, we’re going to get a very good player if we decide to keep 18.”
Whatever happens, the Wolves will be busy before, during and after the draft.
“We’ll explore everything,” Kahn said. “I’m not opposed to trading any or all the picks if the deal is right. I’m not opposed to using all three picks. I’m not opposed to doing a variation of both. Whatever we do, it better be well-thought out and we’ll be, I hope, as prepared as anybody to make these kinds decisions. But we’re not married either way.”
If you have a question or comment for Art Garcia, send him an email.
how abot a link next time mr angry pants.
forgot the u
Nba.com is in the article, read don’t hate u fool.
Typical pre draft babble…if/thats possible/i’m not opposed to.
Stoyko, what do you propose we do with 6,18,28?
“Other than the power forward spot, we need players at every position,” Kahn said.
Hmmmm, seems like Kahn sees Big Al a little differently than many posters here.
Stoyko
What statement did I say now, that caused a bug to crawl up your @$$?
Since you ask coleman
6- Harden 1 / Curry 1a
18- Earl Clark 1 / Mullens 1a
28 Buddinger 1 / Collison 1a
Offseason would like to find a way to pick up a Trevor Ariza.
Jama lol if I had a dollar for every misstatement by you I would be….
So, Stoyko, your “knowledge” appears to consist of the ability to copy and paste. Impressive. Didn’t the lack-of-references-argument start with Mitchell’s coaching opportunities, or lack thereof? Because that was nowhere to be found in the article you posted (pasted?). In fact, I learned absolutely nothing from that article.
Dan your lack of reading comprehension skills isn’t really my issue. You have something better post it.
I enjoyed that definitive NBA.com boilerplate.
What am I failing to comprehend? The article says that we have three first-round draft picks, that we will probably pick a guard from a list of obvious candidates, and that Kahn has different theories about when/how a coach is selected? So what great insight is in there? On the Mitchell issue, all you have to know about the demand for his services is that he’s still not a head coach. He may still be a good pick in spite of that, but I just don’t understand why you’re so would up about it. It’s not like this is a refereed academic journal — it’s a bunch of people who want to share opinions and ideas. My opinion: Curry is looking better and better as long as Harden is off the board. My idea: you take a deep breath and play nice.
Rodman said:
“Other than the power forward spot, we need players at every position,” Kahn said.
Hmmmm, seems like Kahn sees Big Al a little differently than many posters here.
Or, he’s saying that Al’s not coming back from the injury and he’s talking about Love at the 4.
Stoyko - You’ve put me in a tough spot…you asked me to post something suggesting that Mitchell isn’t wanted around the league…those aren’t the articles that are usually around…its usually articles involving possible coaching candidates for vacant positions….and if you looked at any of the pooled sites or any specific sources…the only place you’ll find Mitchell’s name is here.
So if Mitchell’s name is only being tossed around here, why wouldn’t I think he is not in demand ?
LOL Dan, when aforementioned people flat out stated in previous blog commentary that there is no way that the Wolves would draft all 3 1st rounders and Kahn clearly states in this article there is indeed a possibility of that, it is solid information. Even though you and others prefer to live in the world of the imaginary, I prefer some info straight from the new horses mouth.
As far as Sam Mitchell, I heard a number of people say he was a possibility, even PA said it was on his show. Swan on the other hand has not provided any info other than blanket statements about some sort of “rumor” pages that he is indeed NOT a candidate. I would like to see some real proof.
To me it looks like your reading comprehension skills need some work, not my fault you are sensitive to that opinion.
Stoyko: Maybe the more experienced posters here were on to you earlier, but I can see now that you just want to get a rise out of people. It is possible to disagree with people without being a tool. So, no doubt much to your dismay, I’m done interacting with you.
Changing the subject… what do people think of Beaubois? Combine wonder or genuine prospect? It sounds like he looked good at the Eurocamp while he was playing. He might be a reason to keep and use that last first rounder.
Stoyko — I think you’re missing the point everyone else is making. Mitchell wasn’t a candidate for the head coaching jobs in Philly or Sacramento. If he didn’t have a connection to this organization, would he be mentioned for the Wolves job? Probably not.
The fact that he does have connections to the organization does mean that his name probably is in play, though.
It should also be pointed out that various Wolves sources have said they don’t want to keep all three first-round picks. So it’s not as if people who have referred to that made it up out of thin air.
My statement will be based upon opinion only. (this is a blog)We should not hire Mitchell… He has not been mentioned on any of the pooled sites (hoopshype, etc.) as a candidate for any of the other teams in search of a coach. However, a week or so ago, his name did get mentioned by Andrea Bargnani. His comments were less than generous regarding his experience with Mitchell. While what the fish wrap factories should not be what Kahn bases his decision upon, it is a source of information for us fans to use to come to a hypothesis about what would be in the best interests of our club… If it’s not McHale, who would be a better option? Saying “anybody” shouldn’t be an option. Mitchell, Van Gundy, Johnson, Thibodeau? How about Paul Westphal? Eric Musselman? Lots of names to talk about…
Stoyko, working up from 28. I like the 28 options, and Clark at 18, but if we come away with Mullins at any pick we have a guaranteed bust in my mind…not to mention the landslide winner of the ugliest player in the NBA. I would be happy with either Harden or Curry at 6, but Harden will be gone and Curry is fast rising up in to the 5 territory, so it’s not far fetched that he’s gone too.
Long time fan. First off I would like to profusely thank Jerry for bringing this blog to the hungry fans. I’m hoping for a McHale firing in the next few days and am also not into Sam Mitchell. The name I find most interesting in todays blog is Quin Snyder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quin_Snyder
He has alot of the experience we are looking for even for a Dukie. I love his philosophy/political science double major should fit in nice with sound bites like “palace intrigue” and “shadow government” coming from Kahn. And I really hate all these retread coaches like Fratello.
Thanks for the link J R! I am starting to grow fond of the idea of Quin Snyder as the coach of the Wolves. He learned from Coach K… Had a pretty good record last year in Austin! Lets snag him before another team gets the chance!
How often do College Basketball Coaches transition well into their first NBA job? Especially ones with a career winning percentage of 58%?
I can see why Kahn would like Snyder though. They are both smooth talking, self assured individuals. They both seem like good car salesmen to me though.
It says a lot about the state of NBA coaching when Quinn Snyder sounds better than the vast majority of available candidates. On another note, the job security of an NBA coach has become, by far and away, the worst of any professional sport. How many recent coaches have been fired less than two years after winning the coach of the year? Johnson, and Mitchell to name two. Yeah, the award is a joke, but does it not have more to do with the overall lack of quality in the NBA coaching pool?
I don’t know if Snyder would be any good or not. He’s done well in his two years in D-League, and the Toros are owned by the Spurs now, so there’s some link to that organization.
There are some interesting quotes from Kahn in the link below:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media/multimedia/2008/pages/quin/story.html
His college career is obvioulsy questionable, but others with shaky college coaching careers (Stan Van Gundy) have done OK, and others have made the leap from lesser leagues (Phil Jackson, George Karl, Flip Saunders). I’d rather chance on Snyder than go the Fratello route, but I’d still rather go the Thibodeau or Demopolous route than any of those options.
jcoleman I agree on Mullins, the reports have him having a less than stellar workout last week. So not my first choice at 18. I dont see Harden around at 6, I hear that Kahn likes Flynn so I wouldnt be surprised with anything at 6.
Trade already going down, busy month ahead.
Can any ESPN insiders sum up the rest of the Brandon Jennings article by Chad Ford for the rest of us.
How about Hubie Brown(is he still alive?) he did a nice job with a Grizzlies team that had young talent and brought some maturity to the team and had them running nicely.
But again, he maybe is dead for all I know he looks like he is that is for sure, but he could get it going for 2 years and then make the position more desirable for a different better candidate at that point.
Thoughts?
The Jennings article: Ford spoke with a European assistant who goes back to Vlade Divac and who worked extensively with Jennings. He says Jennings was a hard worker who persevered despite a change in head coach, to one who played veterans only. Jennings learned a lot about passing and defense yet still needs to learn more. Selfish perhaps, but most Americans are compared with Euros.
It was a pretty rosy piece. Jennings was a trailblazer going to Europe the way KG was to come straight from high school. It made me want to take him.
jballer, will try to sum it up
Key points- Working out for the Wolves, He’s targeting four teams at the moment: the Kings (No. 4), Wizards (No. 5), Wolves (No. 6), Warriors (No. 7) and Knicks (No. 8). If Jennings doesn’t get the positive feedback he’s looking for, he’ll backfill with a few more later lottery teams like the Bucks, Pacers and Suns.
Sounds like teams are divided on him. Really needs to work on his shot but matured quite a bit in Europe and has gotten better. Game based on athleticism and needs to learn when to pass and shoot. Some compare his game to Iverson and question if really would know how to run a team.
Couple of quotes, most agree drafts biggest enigma.
“I’m not sure how you take a kid without a real body of work that high,” one NBA GM in Treviso said. “I know this is a weak draft, but are we really taking kids who have struggled to produce in college or Europe in the lottery? I’m all for upside, but it’s ridiculous. If Jennings can’t get on the floor in Italy, how does he help my team in the next couple of years? How do you take him over some really talented college kids who have proven they can play? Jonny Flynn, Ty Lawson, Steph Curry. Those guys are talented too and they have track records.”
“He’s a smart kid,” said one NBA coach who saw him later in the season. “You look at him in high school and now and it’s clear to me he’s started to pick up the rhythm of the European game. He’s never going to be a European-type of player. But neither is Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant. No matter how many Europeans you talk to, he’s never going to measure up that way. But he’s trying and is showing he can be effective in the half-court game. Watch a practice and you see what he can do when that game starts going up and down. I think it’s really important that a player learns to play both ways. Jennings has learned that this year.”
Neumms beat me to it.
You gotta love this quote from Ford:
“He’s targeting four teams at the moment: the Kings (No. 4), Wizards (No. 5), Wolves (No. 6), Warriors (No. 7) and Knicks (No. 8).”
I know I’m an idiot but isn’t that 5 teams?
It sounds like the more the scouts watched Jennings the more they liked him. Not many scouts got to watch a ton of him though. I found it interesting that one scout compared his game more to Allen Iverson than Chris Paul’s. If this is accurate do the Wolves need another undersized combo guard?
BMac — The Wolves shouldn’t be looking for a caretaker coach. You want a guy who’s willing to commit. Realistically, this team isn’t a playoff team next year unless dramatic moves are made. So, you want to set this team up for 2010-11 and beyond. You wouldn’t want to short-circuit that anticipated development after year 1 or year 2 by switching coaches again.
gee, seems like a lot of other people feel the same way about Jennings i do. why take the gamble when there are far more proven PG’s in the draft? curry, flynn, maynor being the obvious ones.
He didn’t play much last year, he screwed himself royally by making his euro move. at least that will make others think long and hard before doing the same.
Thanks Stoyko & Neumms… I’m really high on Jennings and haven’t heard much about his workouts yet so I’m pretty interested to hear how they go.
Curry’s shot looks so smooth in some pre-draft workout videos on youtube. I’m really doubting that he will be around at #6 b/c I think someone will move up to #5 and take him.
“Realistically, this team isn’t a playoff team next year unless dramatic moves are made.”
This team isn’t a playoff team next year unless we have about 8 Marshall style disasters in the Western Conference.
Add Tim Floyd to the list of available coaches.
[…] Jerry Zgoda, Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Here’s my take on the situation, and it’s only my opinion based on my instincts and nothing else: I considered the first two meetings a courtesy call by David Kahn. I presumed Kahn doesn’t want to be seen as the guy who summarily dismissed a Minnesota basketball playing legend and the guy who led the Wolves basketball operations for 14 years. When it went to Monday’s third meeting, I started to have my doubts and thought Kevin McHale will return — and he still certainly might — but I’ll stick to my initial instincts: I just can’t see a guy hired to lead the franchise anew with fresh eyes taking on a fellow who casts such a long shadow in the organization, who is used to picking up the telephone and calling owner Glen Taylor anytime he wants something done. If Kahn is going to remake the franchise, you’d think he’d want to start with his own stamp on the organization by picking his own coach. If McHale does not return, then who will coach the Wolves? Well, Sam Mitchell certainly is a possibility. Avery Johnson or Jeff Van Gundy perhaps could be convinced to come back to coaching, but it’d take some persuasion and a lot of money. Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau, a Wolves assistant so long ago, is perhaps the league’s top assistant coach candidate." […]
[…] Jerry Zgoda, Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Here’s my take on the situation, and it’s only my opinion based on my instincts and nothing else: I considered the first two meetings a courtesy call by David Kahn. I presumed Kahn doesn’t want to be seen as the guy who summarily dismissed a Minnesota basketball playing legend and the guy who led the Wolves basketball operations for 14 years. When it went to Monday’s third meeting, I started to have my doubts and thought Kevin McHale will return — and he still certainly might — but I’ll stick to my initial instincts: I just can’t see a guy hired to lead the franchise anew with fresh eyes taking on a fellow who casts such a long shadow in the organization, who is used to picking up the telephone and calling owner Glen Taylor anytime he wants something done. If Kahn is going to remake the franchise, you’d think he’d want to start with his own stamp on the organization by picking his own coach. If McHale does not return, then who will coach the Wolves? Well, Sam Mitchell certainly is a possibility. Avery Johnson or Jeff Van Gundy perhaps could be convinced to come back to coaching, but it’d take some persuasion and a lot of money. Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau, a Wolves assistant so long ago, is perhaps the league’s top assistant coach candidate." […]
Hey Jerry–
Any update on Loukas Mavrokefalidis? (06 second round pick) Does he have NBA talent and will he ever come here?
I’ve solved out shooting woes.
With the 45th pick in the NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select:
Dionte Christmas
One thing that no-one mentioned in discussing the pros and cons of Sam Mitchell is how Toronto completely collapsed after Mitchell was fired. If you compare their record under Mitchell with their record after he was gone it certainly seems as though his coaching was a positive factor.
I agree with Stoyko that at #6 the best choices are 1) Harden and 1a) Curry. But at #18 the Wolves should be looking for Maynor or Daye—unless someone like Holiday, Jennings, Flynn, James Johnson or DeRozan drops that far (and one of those five very well may).
Two problems with that Mike. First of all it’s post hoc reasoning, but more importantly there’s a huge sample size issue there.
Can we please ban “LOL” on this blog? Looking in your general direction on this one, Stoyko..
Geez… I spend a day away and appear to have come back to the Giggle Ship.
According to The Washington Times:
“The Mavericks are said to be interested in the fifth pick and the prospect of drafting Jordan Hill.
The teams have made nice in the past, most recently in the swap that secured Antawn Jamison in 2004. The Mavericks also were kind enough to relieve the Wizards of Juwan Howard in 2001.
The Mavericks apparently are willing to part with either Jason Terry or Josh Howard to sweeten a potential deal. The Mavericks would be obligated to accept an expiring contract of the Wizards, the one belonging to either the Etan Thomas or Mike James.”
THIS AFFECTS THE TIMBERWOLVES IN TWO WAYS:
1. If Dallas is dangling Jason Terry or Josh Howard, then I consider our chances to get The No. 5 pick doubtful at best because we were only able to offer Mike Miller and picks.
2. If Dallas is, as reported, targetting Jordan Hill, then that will be a big plus for Minnesota because that means that either James Harden or Jrue Holiday will fall to No. 6.
3. That sounds like a trade that could make a competitor for a playoff spot (this and future years) worse, rather than better.
I have also heard multiple times from links on Hoopshype that Boston is trying to trade for Memphis’s pick. This one seems confusing.
Rondo would have to be the bait, right? I don’t see what else they would have to offer as they aren’t trading Pierce or KG, and I don’t see why Memphis trades one of the 3-4 high quality picks in the draft to get Ray Allen with a year or two left.
Foo can we suspend stupid commentary, I am looking in your direction fool.
Oh I forgot LOL.
Matt - Rondo and Allen are the pieces they are dangling.
That’s hard to figure coming from boston. They’d have to be after either Rubio or Harden, but they don’t have any tradeable assets unless Memphis is interested in future low 1st round picks (definitely not). I can see why Harden would be attractive as an eventual replacement for Allen, but not sure why Rubio unless they’re shopping Rondo. I don’t see them looking to replace Perkins with Thabeet either. Doesn’t make any sense for a team with a closing window of opportunity to trade for a top 5 pick.
The Dallas-Washington trade would make sense for Dallas, but I’m struggling to make sense out of it for Washington. Terry could help at the point, but not sure what they would want with Howard when they’ve got Butler?
If Boston traded Rondon or Allen would that not be effectively saying they can no longer compete for a title and need to regroup for 2-3 years before they can give it another shot?
I’m not buying it, this team gets at least one more season.
JCole - I read a couple articles last week where Doc called out Rondo a bunch saying his attitude is bringing the team down and his teammates didn’t like playing with him.
Strangest thing I ever heard. Who doesn’t like playing with triple-double guys who defend ?
That would make more sense, maybe a case of selling high before a guy’s attitude is outed to the rest of the league. Is that worth throwing away your chance at another ring in the next two years? I say no. They’ve got to remember that their hopes last year hinged on Rondo’s development, they’d be pushing it to expect that kind of luck twice with Rubio in that same position.
I think Rondo’s value is a little higher than just the #2…best a future pick is included…protected probably.
bet*
Swan - I read an article like that on Hoopsworld.com and was equally confused so I searched for more info. When I found the original article that Hoopsworld was referencing I read that those comments from Rivers were taken out of context and had occured before Garnett or Allen had gotten there and Rondo started to mature. So the articles I read were pretty much BS opinions that were just trying to start controversy.
Can anyone with ESPN.com Insider access tell us more about this headline on the NBA Rumors page:
“A former coach will assist McHale”
??
Grrrrr…..
Icz - Basically if McHale stays Kahn will require him to hire a former coach as his assistant. Probably an X n O’s guy.
Thanks Swan. I see that now in Shooter’s column.
“The Wolves will provide McHale with a list of candidates from whom to choose.”
Sounds like it could be another Casey-Wittman situation.
I don’t have a problem with McHale coaching this team, especially base on the candidates available, but that’s if they’re confident he’ll stick around a while. I don’t see that being the case and guess we’ll be looking for a coach again in 2 years. What comes first fired or boored is the only question.
Would you guys have any interest in trading with the Mavs?
Let’s say they can’t get a trade done with the Wizards, wouldn’t their next attempt be with the Wolves since it seems Hill will most likely be available at #6?
Any interest in Howard or Terry?
Jama - Depends on their contracts. I like Terry more than Howard though. Although J-Ho can play some D.
I was interested in Howard when he could have helped the team to the finals, but we took Ndoooodi. Not sure anymore, think he’d be an attitude problem on a losing team. Plus, we’d have to get more than just him. Terry’s window will be closing by the time this team is playoff ready.
Maybe Tim Floyd is the guy that McHale is being asked to hire. He does has NBA head coaching experience (although it’s not very impressive).
If this is the case, then the McHale/Hoiberg/Floyd connection would be complete and they could take Harden or Holiday at number six and then trade him for DeRozan and some cash.
I can’t believe there is a real possibility that McHale will stay at coach. McHale could hire Phil Jackson as his sidekick and I still wouldn’t want him here.
This team is a joke.
You are cruel Matty.
Cruel because you are probably right.
Mr Kahn,
If you are reading this. Don’t do it. Do not keep Kevin McHale.
You will lose what few fans that are left.
I would have to strongly consider Cardinal, Madsen, and #6 for Howard. Howard will make almost $11 million next year, and there’s a team option on 2010-11, so you could get out from under his deal if you wanted to next offseason.
Let me throw out a couple of possible names for McHale’s assistant:
P.J. Carlesimo — we know McHale likes him, having considered him strongly at the time of the Casey hire.
Various Celtics connections: Chris Ford (currently a scout for the 76ers) and Dave Cowens (assistant in Detroit)
Various Wolves connections: Sam Mitchell and Terry Porter
Kahn connections: Sam Vincent (worked for Kahn in D-League and coached the Bobcats for a year)
Deep Retreads: Brian Hill, Brian Winters, Bob Hill
TWolves Blog has a report from a meeting Kahn held with season ticket holders yesterday. Some interesting nuggets:
* Kahn believes that Al Jefferson and Kevin Love are the 2nd and 4th best players on a championship-caliber team.
* Kahn did not sound high on Hinrich due to his contract and offensive style.
* Kahn said Pekovic was “not an explosive player”.
* Kahn recognizes McHale is a symbol of what has been wrong, and that if he is retained, it must be made clear what else is going to change.
* Kahn believes Love’s ceiling is just below All-Star level.
I agree with everything Kahn said right there.
Love is maybe the second guy off the bench on a championship caliber team, not that it’s going to come up here anyways.
Kahn seems to be a pretty bright guy! I’m hoping these comments are a sign that he has the ability to pull off some amazing deals and get the Wolves in a position to compete again!
Anyone have access to Chad’s mock 4.0?
Here is another article on the breakfast from canishoopus:
http://www.canishoopus.com/2009/6/10/904715/bfast-with-the-kahn
I really like how realistic he seems about rebuilding. He is definitely starting to win me over.
“Kahn seems to be a pretty bright guy! ”
He said the proudest moments of his career weer engineering the deals to acquire Jamaal Tinsley and Jeff Foster.
Jamaal. Tinsley. And. Jeff. Foster.
Of course I call someone dumb while simultaneously typoing a four letter word. I’m sure nobody will gleefully point that out.
Get some new material Gendo.
I’m confident I’ll have more after the draft.
God, I hope not.
And if he retains McHale, then by all means, bash away.
Well, for what it’s worth I hope not too. I’m just cringing at the prospect of DeRozan suiting up for the Wolves.
I will say it seems like he’s a tad blunt. While I enjoy it and find it very refreshing, I suspect it will get him in trouble.
Don’t really get bashing, even indirectly players on your roster. I’m more in the school of the build them up and then trade them.
Gendo, thanks for logging in again from the balcony of the Muppet Show. And don’t listen to the haters; the relentless negativity never gets old.
Nice one 5&10.
I guess with Kahn being blunt is probably the only way to win back the fans.
Since no one else responded, After Chad Ford’s 1-5 of Griffin, Harden,
He has
Wolves: Curry
Warriors: Holiday
8. Flynn
9. DeRozan
10. Hill
11. Hansbrough!?!?
12. Henderson
13. Daye
14. Jennings
15. Clark
16. Blair
17. Maynor
Wolves: Mullens
19. Teague
20. Young
21. Johnson
22. Williams
23. Lawson
24. Summers
25. Buddinger
26. Douglas
27. Lawal
Wolves: Victor Claver (Spain)
29. Collison
30. Brown
I hope the draft doesn’t go that way. I am skeptical about a Curry/Foye backcourt, and we get no help from 18 and 28.
oops, left out Thabeet, Rubio, and Evans at 2,3,4.
5&Dime - Assume Miller’s contract is traded for a better wing than Foye.
No, no trades with the Mavs. Howard creates as many problems as he solves, and while I love Jet Terry, he’s too old to be giving up draft picks for.
And the talk about a Memphis/Boston deal I’m guessing is just Memphis’ way of trying to generate interest in their pick. Unless Boston is desperate for cap space, I don’t see that deal happening at all.
Anyway, I like what Kahn is saying about Jefferson and Hinrich and Pekovic…for being out of the league for so long, he seems to have a very firm grasp on the reality of those situations. He’s been saying all month that he’s going to evaluate whether Al is a franchise player and a guy who will sell tickets. If he decides that answer is no (and it sounds like that’s the conclusion he’s reached), then I’ll be very interested to see what player he goes after to be “the man” on the team.
Thanks Five&Dime.
I don’t know about Chad’s board. Looks like he was playing around a lot with that one.
Good post Bryan,
I think we need a back court stud to be a our alpha dog.
Kahn is merely expressing some of the things that some of us here have been saying for years. It’s pretty easy to diagnose the problems, so he gets precious little credit from me for that, other than some for being reasonably candid about the situation. This is precisely why so many of us insisted we had to go outside the country club to get new, unbiased eyes looking at this team. The difficulty is how to fix it, and that’s how Kahn will be judged.
Rodman - I don’t think Kahn meant guy to be the Alpha Dog in lieu of Al, I think he was more talking about putting butts in the seats.
You’re probably right Swan. A face of the franchise guy.
Well, ya, it’s not rocket science to see what the problems are. But considering that McHale couldn’t even get that far, you have to be encouraged by the fact that Kahn at least knows what the deal really is.
Seems like Ford took the week off and let Gottlieb do the board. I’m very happy about Kahn’s Hinrich comment so that we can stop talking about it. Great point Sean - I really like the way he’s looking to rebuild but it’s definitely going to come down to the execution.
What if we trade for the #2 pick without giving up the #6 pick? Would you guys rather have Rubio or Thabeet?
That SI mock has to be an almost worst case scenario.
The SI mock I think assumes that the #2, 4, and 5 picks all get traded. They’re ranking the prospects basically just on pure talent and potential…no team needs taken into account because they’re assuming those won’t be the teams making those picks.
RUBIO ! NO THABEET !
It didn’t seem so to me, Bryan. The analysis seemed rather team specific.
Oh, and I’d rather the Wolves not get Thabeet, unless they can do it after the #6.
I mean for the Wolves picks, of course.
I’d be ok with drafting Thabeet as high as #2. He’s perfect for what we need. If we could engineer it so we take either Rubio or Thabeet at #2 and Evans or Harden at #6, I’ll be elated.
I’ll throw my TV out the window if we get Thabeet.
Any particular reason you don’t like him so much?
High risk, moderate - low reward.
Bryan, do you mean apart from the fact that he is not physical, will get pushed around and abused, unskilled, is years away from contributing, can only be played when one of the two best players on the team are sent to the bench, and does not help the biggest holes on the team, perimeter defense and scoring, thereby burning probably the biggest asset the team has on an individual that makes the team worse when he takes the floor?
THABEET…..PLZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
…and what 5&Dime said that I didn’t want to type out for the 1000th time.
Just curious. I disagree, but I don’t feel like typing out my reasons again either.
Ok here’s a video of Tyreke Evans workout with the Kings.
http://tv.kingsconnect.com/archives/809
For all the Evans supporters, this is both good and bad. He shot the lights out and despite his awkward looking shot, actually looked pretty smooth. So is he improving so much that a team like the Kings take him if they can’t get Rubio? Maybe this allows Harden to fall to us.
If the Kings can’t take Rubio, they’ll go with either Jennings or Holiday. No way they take another wing with Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni under contract and Dante Green waiting to breakout.
Only way they take Evans is if they’re convinced he can be a full time point guard, which he can’t.
fiveanddime:
I thnk of myself more like Sam the Eagle than either Statler or Waldorf.
Anyways, when the boys crack .500 then you can bag on me for being negative. Hell, let’s make it .300.
They only have to win 25 games for you not to be negative ?
I didn’t say that. I just said you could bag on me for being negative then!
I just don’t think it’s fair to call it negative when by all objective measures they’re in pretty rough shape. If they start trending in the right direction and I don’t change my tune then that’s different.
It’s not negative to call the Wolves a bad team. They’re a bad team, it’s the truth. Hopefully this year we finally pull out of that, but until then…
It’s not negative to say they are a bad team. It is negative to suggest that every past decision has been wrong, every future decision will be a mistake, the future is hopeless and Love is a pastry-eating bust.
That’s unfair. Love eats a lot more than just pastries. The world is an oyster full of delicious starchy treats.
Come on fiveanddime, you can either find their incompetence funny or you can mire yourself in it. I choose to poke tongue-in-cheek humor at things rather than let it consume me.
I guess the third option is Stockholm Syndrome.
To the Thabeet bashers,
You are making a safe pick in saying he won’t be a stud. But I think you are making the wrong pick.
Just a hunch.
The problem Gendo is that you are not funny. Get some new material bozo. Now that’s funny. I will throw in a LOL for that fool foo.
Well at least I have something to aspire to now.
Also I’m with you on Thabeet, Rodman. I’ve seen him play in person and while he clearly has a lot of developing to do you can tell what a uniquely elite prospect he is by the way he can move and his sheer physical ability.
I would be pretty happy if they somehow ended up with hi.
http://tv.kingsconnect.com/archives/809
Nice video find j_baller.
Evans doesn’t have a jump shot, huh guys?
Here’s write up from a Knicks blog about their workout with Curry and Holiday today.
Best quote: What kind of player do you think you will be (to Curry)?
Curry: A great one.
Arenal + Stoyko = Zero
You got me thinking about incompetence…who would make the Wolves initial “Ring of Honor” (to steal the phrase from the Vikings)? Your thoughts…
1. Christian “I’m a winner”Laettner
2. J.R. Rider - he won a dunk contest
3. Shane Heal - he fought Charles Barkley
4. Ndudi Ebi - “Dudi”..hee hee
5. James “Hollywood” Robinson - he scored a lot of points in the 4th quarter…one time.
It’s got to be Ebi
Hollywood was cheap and entertaining so screw it. He was one of those guys you knew was terrible but it was still kind of fun to watch him get into games.
Especially when he got in trouble for sinking a bunch of trays on the Lakers then doing that throat slashing gesture.
Marubyr would have to be on that list somewhere. His career died when he left KG’s shadow.
I’d consider Anthony Peeler too.
Paul Grant and Will Avery are near the top of my list.
sportsflunkie your mom said I was her hero
It goes beyond the draft…
Illegal contract for Joe Smith. Why settle for a wink and a handshake when you can get it in illegal writing?
Googs and Billups: Two all-stars who walked away for nothing in return.
The inability to find a center: When Dean Garrett is your best center ever, you know you are in trouble (I’m in the Al’s a PF school). Skeeter, Rasho, Candy… Help me out folks who am I missing?
The ridiculous contracts: Jaric, Hudson, Madsen, Hassell, and even KGs. All way over-the-top and too high.
The bad trades: Jaric/Cassel & 1rst rounder, Roy/Foye, ???
Maybe we could find Ray Allen and Brandon Roy T’Wolves jerseys to put in there
Not as evil as the Durant #1 jersey I’m sending to a Portland fan I know !
You should also send the Portland fan a Sam Bowie jersey
No…I am sending him a Portland Trailblazers Durant jersey with the #1 on it.
Man, buying a Roy Wolves jersey is a great idea.
I like it to blast McHale, but I’m a softie… don’t like dissing Foye too much. Guy’s had like 8 coaches, major knee surgery and McHale doesn’t know how to coach guards.
Here’s another snippet from the Knicks workout.
Curry: “I like this practice facility,” he said. “Yes, my shot was falling very well.”
Jrue Holiday agreed Curry’s shot was on target.
“I mean,” Holiday said, “when is it not?”
I feel bad for Foye too. I’ve never questioned his desire and it’s not his fault who he was traded for.
I hope he gets a chance to be part of something good at some point in his career.
Gendo, nice to see the soft spot for Foye. Interesting that you appreciate his desire and don’t hold it against him that he isn’t Roy.
Of course, Love, who plays with 3 times the desire of Foye is still in your doghouse for not being Mayo. I guess the difference is that Love actually has talent, and you favor the plucky little guy who tries to make do without it. You must love “Rudy”.
Why do you care if I don’t like Love? It’s not a matter of him not being Mayo I never wanted him on the team regardless of who it cost to get him.
I feel the same way about having you here Gendo.
Aww. Well, I’m going to grace you with my presence regardless.
Gendo, I don’t care if you don’t like him, I’m just sick of the potshots coming with every flipping opportunity. Apparently this is therapeutic for you, but it is even more tiring than it would be if you were targeting your ire at someone else, because you are so obviously wrong about his talent level that it comes across saying more about you as a person than it does about him as a player. You are not targeting the worst players on the team, the biggest busts (in terms of how they drafted or traded for), just the one guy who sticks in your craw because he doesn’t fit your view of the ideal player. Let it go.
Hey Jim,
Boy, it was amazing seeing Kevin Love clear that buffet out.
Signed,
Stanley Roberts
Well, I’ll take your points to heart fiveanddime but I think maybe you’re taking my comments a touch more seriously than they were intended.
Yes, the Roy for Foye trade was one of the worst ever, and yes, even if Foye improves considerably he will never be the player that Roy is, but…it is still possible that with a more stable and improving Timberwolves roster Foye could end up being a good player and a valuable complementary piece of a growing team.
Hey Jim,
It was nice seeing me kick your ass and throwing a chair at you.
Signed,
Chris Everette
Gendo, maybe I shouldn’t care. Love took a couple of cheapshots today, but it’s really more about the overall negative tone on the board. There’s a draft to be had and a new GM who hasn’t even screwed anything up yet. What could be better? Maybe living in Warrior country has desensitized me to institutional ineptness, but it’s also made me appreciate the intense loyalty and optomism of their fans.
Clones, this is why you should get out and stop blogging about a five win team. This guy Chris “Everette” can’t even spell his own name. “Everette” classic.
Got another text, Dear Jim, the Wolves should call me up, I can handle that ship.
Signed,
Captain Edward John Smith
Jim the only ship you can captain is a toilet bowl. When I said ship I meant shi*
“Gendo, maybe I shouldn’t care. Love took a couple of cheapshots today, but it’s really more about the overall negative tone on the board. There’s a draft to be had and a new GM who hasn’t even screwed anything up yet. What could be better? Maybe living in Warrior country has desensitized me to institutional ineptness, but it’s also made me appreciate the intense loyalty and optomism of their fans.”
I try to look at things realistically. It’s why unlike a lot of Minnesota fans I don’t have much negative to say about the Vikings or (gasp) Brad Childress.
However in the case of the Timberwolves they are being mired down by a culture problem not unlike the same problem that infects the Clippers organization, and like in that organization it flows from the very top. Until Taylor wakes up and makes wholesale changes in the front office nothing is going to change.
If they had hired almost anyone else on their list I would have had some measure of optimism, but Kahn was the absolute last person I wanted.
At some point it gets tiresome when the organization routinely does exactly the opposite of what you want them to only to have it blow up in their face every single time.
The obvious answer that will be given to me here is that I should stop watching, but why? I’ve been with this team since the very beginning and after all the time and money I’ve put in I feel just as entitled to call myself a Wolves fan and express my opinions even if there’s not much about the current group I’m hopeful about.
So I’m going to tough it out, hope Kahn’s tenure is a brief one and hope the roster is remade at some point into something competitive.
In the meantime we’re going to have to live with one another. I’ll cut down on the Kevin Love is fat jokes, but I’m never going to be a Kevin Love fan.
Kahn is a genius!
All the Wolves need to do is draft a Jordan like player, sign the next Magic Johnson, and trade for the next Shaq. If they create a player database and work a little harder then this can all be possible, and the Wolves may have a dynasty on their hands.
Also, the mock drafts and rumors can be talked about until everyone is blue in the face. I get sucked in too, but at the end of the day whether it is NFL or NBA…the draft never goes as expected. This year is especially volatile at the top.
One of the challenges of being a sports fan, is being able to appreciate a player (or team) for who he is, and not getting too caught up in who you could have had instead of him.
Kevin Love is a fine player. But he’s who we got with the 3rd pick of the draft. No doubt time will show that we passed on several better players (not just Mayo), but we have to appreciate what Love brings and rally behind him.
Foye/Roy. Perhaps a little tougher to swallow, but I certainly can see Randy knocking down some big shots in more of a sixth man role.
Cory Brewer is another solid young player who will be overshadowed by numerous players we passed on. But what can we do now?
Every year teams are faced with this. Though we seem to have gotten more than our fair share.
I just hope for once (or actually the third time, after KG and Roy), pull an all-star out of the draft. And keep him.
I know we’ll all be rooting for Kahn to do just that.
I’m not sure I agree with Brewer being a solid young player. He still hasn’t shown he can be a legitimate offensive player and personally I think his defense so far has been overrated due to his woeful offensive production (i.e. if he’s on the floor and not scoring he must be a lockdown defender).
Love you know I disagree on but we’ve done that to death.
I like Brewer as a person so I give him a little benefit of the doubt. My take is he’s a great role player to have on a good team (yes I’d prefer more with a 7th pick).
My guess for Love is he’s going to get in great shape and be a very talented, hustle guy who will be able to knock down the open jumper and pull down a lot of boards. He’s the kind of guy that every team needs (but again I’d hope for more from a 3rd pick).
The bottom line is if we could get one superstar guard, a big with a defensive presence, and some shooters, we’ll be a good team. Then we won’t be disappointed that Love, Brewer, and Foye aren’t All Stars, but we’ll be very happy to have them on our team.
Honestly, I don’t think that list is impossible for us to get.
I can’t take too much issue with the Brewer pick. If I remember correctly he was pretty much the consensus BPA at that point in the draft. There’s still a chance he could take a big leap forward, but historically the precedent is against him based on his production out of the gates.
I like him a lot too so I’m definitely rooting for him.
After reading Kahn’s comments I can really see someone like Curry coming here. He is a shooter like Kahn wants and I feel like his personality has star potential. He is a proven leader.
Foye looks to be gone, will be interesting to see what we are able to get in return for him.
Two weeks, I can’t take anymore.
From NY Newsday,
Stephen Curry was leaving the gym Wednesday here at the MSG Training Center with the exhausted nets singed and the Knicks salivating after his predraft workout. Mike D’Antoni approached the Davidson star just before he reached the exit.
“We can’t draft you,” D’Antoni said.
A perplexed Curry, who has made it clear the Knicks would be his preferred destination, offered a quizzical, “Why?”
“Because,” D’Antoni continued, ” Allan Houston said he doesn’t want to be the second-best shooter in Knicks history.”
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Brewer’s value goes up exponentially when you put him in the right role. Right now he’s in a tough position because the team needs everyone to produce numbers, and stats aren’t his game.
I compare him to Trevor Ariza, another guy who was mostly energy and defense coming into the league, but had potential to be a very good shooter and all around player. People got down on Ariza when he was in Orlando because they didn’t have a good team and that forced him to be a scorer. Not his game.
Now that he’s in a more ideal situation in LA…between Kobe and Gasol, without the pressure to be a box score wonder, you can see how good he really is. He does everything for them…scores, rebounds, creates plays, defends….that’s the kind of guy Corey can and will be. He’s what I call an opportunity player…he plays the best when he’s able to not force the action, but is always able to take advantage of the opportunities created by his teammates.
I’m coming around on Curry. Still not my top choice, but one that I’d be very happy with.
As for Kahn’s desire to add a star in the backcourt, I believe that James Harden has the best potential to be a backcourt star from everybody in the draft. I’d put his star potential at the same level as Rubio. Just my opinion, but I love Rubio as well.
Congratulations, Gendo - you’ve made YOURSELF the topic of conversation on this board.
While I disagree with most of your takes, I like reading them. My beef with you is that as a self-proclaimed “smart guy,” you don’t seem to have the capacity to bring new material to the table very often. Always the same old, tired takes. The takes you have in your rotation are strong, to the point and well-informed. But I’m just disappointed that they are the same takes over and over and over again.
Every time I read one of your rotational takes, I mourn inside a little bit. It’s like, “remember the days when Gendo brought something new to the table? Man, those were good times.” Almost like Fresh Gendo died and was replaced by an imposter who just cuts and pastes the same takes over and over again.
I’m completely serious when I say that I like your takes… just looking for more variety.
Speaking of fresh…..hows about some sort of an update Jerry? Anything?
I’ll go down as saying if the Wolves end up with Thabeet I’ll be very disappointed. THe worst case is that Harding and Curry are BOTH gone by the 6th pick. The best case is we trade and also aquire the 5th from Washington and both Curry AND Harding are there. Very doubtful though that would happen. I’d be happy with Harding and Flynn though.
Are the Knicks hyping Currie just to get other players to fall to them??
It’s what I would be doing.
You’d think the Knicks wouldn’t show their cards. But in recent years their picks have been predicted in the mocks.
I wouldn’t trust that greaser Kahn. He probably has a deal worked out with his old Knick pal Donny.
Interesting…
but Curry said that he isn’t planning on giving the Timberwolves a private workout. That could mean that the Wolves have no interest in Curry, or that Curry and his representatives don’t want Minnesota to pick him.
What ? I read yesterday he hadn’t scheduled one but wasn’t opposed to it if he felt he might not get picked higher than us….
Or it could mean the Wolves are trying to feign that they aren’t interested in Curry. Who knows? Trying to parse what might or might not be subterfuge is impossible.
I’m going to be uncomfortable watching this draft until I hear the name Thabeet going 2-5.
I just hope Kahn appreciates one option is not allowed this year… Do not draft someone and then trade him. All other options are available, just not that one.
I don’t agree, Rodman. They can draft someone and make a trade, as long as they trade up for a better prospect talent. We don’t want a draft and trade down.
Last year’s was a good deal when all the players and contracts are figured into it. The Wolves just need a different outcome this time around.
Rodman - Thats silly…what if we are able to package the player we pick and an expiring contract for an established backcourt stud ?
Why would taking a player and trading down be a bad thing if it improves the team?
Why would you completely kill one of your options before you know what’s available? That makes absolutely no sense what so ever.
Rodman = McHale today !
Rodman that wasn’t a very smart comment. This team needs to keep all of it’s options open.
So it is officially nearing the end of the week…. Jerry, do you have any updates on when Derozan, Clark, or any others are coming in for workouts?
Lighten up folks… I was having a little fun.
Yes if there’s a great deal you take it.
Gee thanks for the insight.
Swan, keep hitting that pipe… I’m sure that deals going to happen any day now.
Why wouldn’t it ?
Because A. We won’t be drafting a stud (at least it won’t be clear that he’s a stud on draft night).
And B. Our expiring contracts are garbage. Mike Miller included.
Why would a team trade for a stud for that?
One looking to cut payroll.
Perhaps… but wouldn’t you rather go young for a year, get in the lottery in the super deep 2010 draft and then make the play with a clear cap next year?
Not that I want to lose this year, but I think we should play some of our young picks. I would root for a young team with some potential talent.
Late nomination for the Wolves “Ring of Honor”: Andrae Patterson
Felipe Lopez for three!!!! The prayer has been answered.
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