Wolves GM Search Heating Up
by wyn on Apr 20, 2009 9:49 AM CDT
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PrintThe mainstream outlets are all abuzz about candidates for the Timberwolves' GM position. I know that there are a few FanShots and FanPosts that you've all posted over the weekend, but I thought a quick rundown in one place might be useful.
Let's start with a list of the rumored candidates and Hoopus' take (of course) from the Executive Search series I've run (and will need to ramp up if I'm going to cover the remaining candidates in time):
- Lance Blanks, Assistant General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chris Grant, Assistant General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Larry Harris, Assistant Coach, Golden State Warriors
- Sam Hinkie, Vice President of Basketball Operations, Houston Rockets
- Fred Hoiberg, Assistant General Manager, Minnesota Timberwolves
- David Kahn, Owner, Austin Toros (NBDL)
- Dennis Lindsey, Assistant General Manager, San Antonio Spurs
- David Morway, General Manager, Indiana Pacers
- Jim Stack, General Manager, Minnesota Timberwolves
Not all of these guys are confirmed candidates, but the news clips below should help sort through that.
Mike Monroe at MySan Antonio.com confirms that the Wolves have asked the Spurs for permission to speak with Dennis Lindsey.
Jerry Zgoda at the Star Tribune ran a story about the entire hiring process/situation this morning with these bits that pretty much include the whole of the rumor mill's latest:
Taylor said Sunday afternoon that he has not extended a job offer yet and is completing final reference checks in a search he hopes to complete in the next week or two.
...
Fred Hoiberg or Jim Stack -- both appear long shots at this point
...
the new boss won't be obligated to retain McHale
...
Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry told the Cleveland Plain Dealer his office hadn't formally given the Wolves permission to talk with Blanks, whom a source suggested is, along with Lindsey, a finalist for the job.
A week or two is a pretty tight timeline, but in order to adequately prepare for a draft in which the Wolves hold 5 picks, a new GM will need every moment he can get to assess the players, picks and payroll he's got and come up with a long-term plan that move into execution forthwith.
Given this tight timeframe and what appears to be an impending wholesale change of guard, I'd like to take this opportunity to offer Glen Taylor the services of Canis Hoopus. Although we're often critical of the team, and sometimes single out Mr. Taylor, it's all because we want a better basketball team to root for.
So, Mr. Taylor, if there's anything we (as in "the whole Hoopus community") can do to help, just shoot us an email (canishoopusATgmailDOTcom) and we'll be happy to lend a hand. That's what friends are for.
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ii'd like ta nominate mahself fo de GM postion mayn
i wud be thow ed mayn! u alreddy no i wus chill at de practices chiefin on kill but makin dem moves maynn! c’mon yall support dis idea maynnnnn!
MAYN HOL UP!
For what it's worth...
you’d get my vote.
P.S. As long as you hire Wyn and I as your capologists.
by College Wolf on Apr 20, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
That Kahn article linked to by Britt...
made him sound almost over qualified. He sounded more like the heir to Stern than McHale.
Watch out
Kahn is anything but overqualified. He ran numerous D-League teams into the ground. D-League people I talk to are truly scared that he’s being considered to run a team again.
Blogging at RidiculousUpside
by Scott Schroeder on Apr 20, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I've received similar emails to that effect
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
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Kahn
I can’t speak for whether Kahn is anything good or not. All I know is the connection to Donnie Walsh. Would there be anything that could be elaborated on here?
by Jose Cordoba on Apr 20, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions
No...
….I only link or write about open sourced material. If someone wants to send me stuff on line and make it public, they need to say so or write a fan shot.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
No Biggie
The only reason I wonder is because his background with Donnie Walsh seems fairly credible. I sure can’t speak for his administrative skills or claim any great D-League knowledge.
by Jose Cordoba on Apr 20, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I would love to see one of the smart guys from the Spurs FO as the Wolves GM. Those guys know how to build a basketball team (i.e., one player at a time). The Wolves need a guy that can come up with a plan to make good use of all those assets we now have. McHale’s Ndudi Ebi draft and Roy-for-Foye trade will keep him from ever holding another FO job again.
This news is
very encouraging. Hopefully Taylor follows through and hires a serious outside candidate. I’m hoping for Lindsey or anyone from the Rockets/Spurs ilk.
Realgm is on fire about Lindsay. Rumor has it someone at rubechat is confirming Lindsay, but that is rubechat.
If it is Lindsey we could likely get Budenholzer as a coach.
Lindsey would be a nice hire.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
I hope the Spurs get swept out of the playoffs...
… so we can find out if this is true sooner rather than later.
by Kevin Loves McHale's Navy on Apr 20, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
The fact that whoever is the new GM appears to be able to make the calls he see’s fit and wont have McHale forced on him and will make the choice to retain hi or not tells me perhaps Taylor may finally be getting out of the “Jerry Jones” mindset of I’m the owner and can do it myself.
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"
Lindsey
I can’t speak to how good he would be. The track record of Carroll Dawson is mixed at best. Although to be fair I’m sure personnel decisions aren’t unanimous in a War Room setting.
Although- It’s clearly positive on Lindsey if RC Buford is a fan considering the track record of Kevin Pritchard, Sam Presti, and Danny Ferry.
Lastly-The best case for keeping Fred Hoiberg in any role could be made is that his arrival seemed to coincide with the Front Office making better moves. This could of also be a byproduct of just abandoning the notion of rebuilding around KG with limited assets.
I think Lindsey’s eventual success will come down to if they can acquire a true-difference maker in all probablity through the draft. Love and Jefferson seem like a Nice 2-3 on a really good team but they don’t match up as number 1 options compared to the teams currently favored in the playoffs.
Agreed on Love-Jefferson
We need a GM that will admit that Jefferson is not the best player on a contending team. Of course, finding that player ain’t easy and it might not even exist in the entire 2009 draft and realistic free agent class.
by Rascal Flatts on Apr 20, 2009 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions
The Houston connection is important to keep in mind...
Though it’s tough to know how much input he had. The Rockets’ record was slightly above-average, plus they had to deal with some things (Drexler retiring, Pippen needing a trade because he and Barkley didn’t get along, Barkley suffering a career-ending injury mid-year, Olajuwon’s inability to stay healthy) that could’ve been difficult to foresee. Dawson’s draft record is spotty (passing up Rashard Lewis for Mirsad Turkcan, picking Cuttino Mobley in the 2nd round, drafting Kenny Thomas ahead of Andrei Kirilenko, passing up Ginobili twice in the 2nd round, trading 3 first-rounders for Eddie Griffin, taking Bostjan Nachbar instead of Tayshaun Prince, taking Tito Maddox instead of a bunch of current NBA players in the 2nd round, Malick Badiane instead of Kyle Korver or Mo Williams, Steve Novak instead of Boobie Gibson or Paul Millsap). With that in mind, he was never afraid to trade up (Michael Dickerson/others for Steve Francis, Francis/Mobley for T-Mac). The team was also above .500 a lot during Dawson’s tenure, which would be a step up. I still think he would be a good hire.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Apr 20, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions
I haven’t been around here lately (I find games 43-82 of the NBA season generally pointless). But Dennis Lindsey has extensive roots in one team known for being maybe the most ahead-of-the-curve in the game statistical analysis (Houston) and another known for being maybe the best evaluators, particularly of international players, in the game. And he personally ascended from the scouting/evaluation side of the fence.
I know we can only speculate how he’d perform in Minnesota, but to think this guy could replace what we’ve had…it blows my mind. It’s like a lead-year’s step forward for this franchise. Curmudgeonly former player to cutting-edge mind/highly coveted exec in one fell swoop.
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