Dan (MN): Please help fix the wolves. Anyone has to be able to do better than what we...

Dan (MN): Please help fix the wolves. Anyone has to be able to do better than what we have.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (1:28 PM ET ) No one is fixing the Wolves until Glen Taylor makes a wholesale change in the front office there. They need new ideas and new blood and guys who aren't overly attached to the players they scouted and drafted. Everything needs to change and I actually think you'd see some interest from some young, more dynamic GMs in the job like the Pacers' David Morway or the Spurs' Dennis Lindsey. They are way more innovative, have great work ethics, understand the cap, and understand chemistry. Something needs to change in Minnesota and it needs to change at the top.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=24161

6 months ago Blakeley Comment 24 comments 0 recs |

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Well, well, well...

It looks like Chad Ford’s been reading Hoopus lately.

by wyn on Dec 18, 2008 1:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hasn’t everybody? :D They’re doing less and less effort to hide it it seems.

Ok so David Morway and Dennis Lindsey are on my research list.

Beater of the early Thabeet drum

by Wim (Belgium) on Dec 18, 2008 2:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This enigmatic line is from Charley Waters of the PiPress (about whom I know nothing, I don’t read his column, just clicked on a link to it):

Pssst: It won’t be surprising if Flip Saunders is back coaching the Timberwolves next season.

I assume he’s hearing something from someone? Anyways here’s the column:

http://www.twincities.com/dailydose/ci_11258081?nclick_check=1

by plinytheelder on Dec 18, 2008 7:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Bird Whisperer!!!

Charlie Waters, the original dirty blogger. The guy literally makes shit up. He throws so much crap against the wall some of it is bound to stick. He probably heard it from Sid.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 18, 2008 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Then again in a way it makes sense. The most successful coach in the history of the franchise (well aside from McHale), from here I think?, played college ball here, etc., so if he’s going to take on a crappy team I guess it would be this one. Plus if Taylor’s in penny-pinching mode Saunders might be relatively cheap (unless the Wolves have to give the Pistons some $ for some reason?) – he’s seen to have underperformed in the playoffs with 2 teams now. Anyways I’ve never been a huge fan of Saunders because I always thought he wasn’t a great defensive coach, but if Taylor wants lots of points and lots of seats in the stands, Saunders could fit the bill.

by plinytheelder on Dec 18, 2008 8:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Flip can get better

I know he’s had trouble winning in the post season but I have to think someone will be willing to give him a chance.

By the end of the year there could be ten teams looking for new coaches. I can’t imagine this is going to be the job that anyone will really want.

Unless we bring in a serious GM I can’t imagine we get anything more then a flier on an up and comer or a “stud” from college.

Let’s hope that who ever it is has no ties to the Wolves at all!

by DrakeSax82 on Dec 18, 2008 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

…no ties. New blood is needed.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 18, 2008 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL, did you make that line up or is that a common US english line. Either way, love it.

Beater of the early Thabeet drum

by Wim (Belgium) on Dec 19, 2008 4:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's common

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 19, 2008 7:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is the Sports Guy still angling for a GM gig?

Honestly, Bill Simmons couldn’t do any worse than the status quo. It might even generate some interest in this flat-lining franchise.

Look here junior, don't you be so happy.
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad.

by E-6 on Dec 18, 2008 10:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm kidding...

Sort of…

Look here junior, don't you be so happy.
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad.

by E-6 on Dec 18, 2008 10:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Short of Simmons...

…perhaps the Wolves could attempt to be the first interactive franchise and hold draft picks up for a fan vote. Maybe they could have a hybrid proposal where they select one lucky fan to be GM and then make a reality show out of it. I know there’s a lot of behind the scenes nuts and bolts, but draft wise, it can’t be worse than what the pros have done, can it? Kidding…sort of as well.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 18, 2008 10:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boy...

…if we’re joking about this stuff in December, what will March be like?

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 18, 2008 10:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fortunately, arson will be out of the equation...

Look here junior, don't you be so happy.
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad.

by E-6 on Dec 18, 2008 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

...because interest will have long ago left the building.

Look here junior, don't you be so happy.
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad.

by E-6 on Dec 18, 2008 10:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and it will ruin the new green roof

;)

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 18, 2008 11:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

March will be spent with a collection plate

to buy out Rubio’s contract so he can join the draft.

by McCleak on Dec 18, 2008 11:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm absolutely in favor of anyone from Canis Hoopus running the team

But since we like to appoint announcers as GM, what if we take it a step further? Britt for GM?

by McCleak on Dec 18, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s been suggested, I mean like, not just for kidding but seriously, by a number of people, that he wouldn’t be bad as something like an assistant coach (for starters). His response to that remains that it’s all way more complicated than it seems and thus he would be in over his head.

Beater of the early Thabeet drum

by Wim (Belgium) on Dec 19, 2008 4:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I ditto that...

….and as example A I use my take on Shaddy v. Foye. I can look at stats until I’m blue in the face but I have zero clue about how things go in the locker room or whether or not a player’s mind has left his body, as it appears to have done with Shaddy. This says nothing of the day-to-day operations of the franchise. Upon being hired as GM my first action would be to bring in a real GM and to assign myself the position of assistant to the assistant. Maybe intern. Nah, I’d give myself a salary and health benefits. ;)

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 19, 2008 7:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, I did some quick searches on Morway and Lindsey.

Morway’s been with the Pacers for over 10 years now. He was just recently promoted to GM, working under Bird. He has a Law degree and historically seems more involved with the contract/cap side of things. He has also worked for the San Diego Padres.

Lindsey has a longer track record on the scouting/evaluation side of things. He’s actually fairly new to the Spurs; he worked for 11 years previously with the Rockets, joining them in 1996 as a scout/personnel video coordinator and eventually working his way up to director of player personnel before being poached by the Spurs. He’s a former assistant coach and recruiter at the JC level.

And as an aside, I agree with Chad Ford’s thinking that the Wolves VP position would be attractive. They have some picks and pieces to work with, and there aren’t a lot of terrible contracts anymore. A couple years ago I don’t think they could have gotten anyone, but one thing McHale’s done well has been to clear the decks.

by jianfu on Dec 19, 2008 7:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Plus being a GM...

of a professional sports team is a desirable position in general. The only guys who wouldn’t want to come here are old timers who we wouldn’t want anyway. For a young gun going to a place like the wolves where they can do their own thing without the big city media attention would be fairly ideal. Look at how much rope Tayor has given mchale.

by Pants_ on Dec 19, 2008 8:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs