Maybe now is the time to bring in Bill Simmons. At least you know he won’t turn it down.

OMG; how did this happen … We’re totally f*** … what are we going to do…

:-( :-( :-(

It really sounded like a lateral move for Penn, since he’d have Hoiberg—instead of Pritchard—making the big decisions. We won’t get any quality candidates to join the GM by Committee idea of Taylor’s.

This is killing me. Should I apply?

This is ridiculous

David Stern: Glen, it’s me, David Stern

Glen: What can I do for you?

Stern: Announce Kahn as your new GM

Glen: I’m not sure I want to do that—he doesn’t sound like my kind of guy

Stern: How would you like the second pick in tomorrow’s lottery drawing?

Glen: Deal.

sorry guys…

NM.

I wish ya the best, and I just have one question—

Was Tom Penn expected to share basketball decisions with Hoiberg, and others? IS that a promotion, when he’s in a similar situation in Portland?

I’m sure everything will be fine and you guys will find a great young mind to lead the way (maybe you already have him, in guys like Hoiberg and others). If Penn was really expected to just be another voice in the committee, and not really having more responsiblity, it’s not surprising to hear he turned it down.

I’ve also read he is ambitious, so if he was given more of a say than he has now, maybe he’d think it over. I dunno— I don’t know the guy. I don’t know how good he has at player evaluations, which has always been reported as KP’s strength. All we know, is he knows the CBA, and how to find loopholes and remembers all the different rules and tricks one can use to help make deals. I dunno if anything more than vice-whatever (a helper to the lead guy) is best for someone with his strengths.

He’s not famous for the Houston’s GM type stuff… using advanced stats to uncover hidden gems and a player’s true value. He’s great at salary cap and under-used trickeries. Maybe he can do more, but it’s what he has done thus far and I’m not sure if he’s the answer as a head GM.

Portland was a much less attractive destination than Minny not too long ago, and you got a great pick coming up and young pieces to build with or use in a trade. Everything certainly isn’t perfect there, but SOMEONE will come in and turn things around as long as your owner is looking for that. He seems to be looking for a change, which is what was needed for us and for you guys.

Basically, losing out on Tom Penn isn’t the end of the world, as long as you got faith in your current executives player evaluation abilities now that McHale isn’t the head-GM. Tom Penn helps in other ways that are valuable, but having someone you can trust to make good player evaluations is more important.

Mortimer

How much does the team cost anyway? There’s an old saying in corporate America: “The fish stinks from the head down.”

That I don’t answer regarding buying tix for next year. Here’s an answer: maybe if the owner didn’t continue to figuratively slap the fans in the face year after year, I’d be more inclined to go to a few games.

As for Minneapolis not being an attractive destination, I agree in regards to the players because they don’t need to and therefore might not choose to spend the nice part of the year here. But the executives have to be there the entire year, and the twin cities area has a pretty good quality of life for that type of person. Wouldn’t a guy rather live here than in Milwaukee or Indianapolis or Detroit or Memphis or Salt Lake City?

Start selling yourself on the idea of Kahn or Fred. We are a mediocre team. I think now we just decide if we are content with mediocre or if we jump ship.

That’s disappointing news. I was hoping the Wolves would hire Penn.

Hinkie is our only option left, but still it’s already too late because the lottery is TOMORROW…

I’ll reiterate my belief that so long as Taylor’s hiring a GM to predominantly act as a cap guy, and force the candidate to retain the rest of the team’s management structure, then he may as well find a bored lawyer/economist who’s also a sports fan. Try to find a Tom Penn before he’s Tom Penn.

If he wants a promising assistant GM, then Taylor’s probably got to be willing to let go of the Country Club. I know Penn was on board and all that, but in the end coming to Minny likely was a lateral move for him (for the most part), and therefore it was rather easy for the Blazers to just give him a raise to stay. If the Wolves offer included fullblown honest-to-pete GM priviledges, then even if the Blazers offered a raise, a new title, a better parking space, or whatever, it wouldn’t be enough to stop him from coming to Minnesota. Because if he’s as ambitious as our Blazer fan friends are saying, Penn would figure “why go back when I can be Minny’s Kevin Pritchard?”

And I don’t think it’s in Taylor’s DNA to let someone come in be the new sheriff. Not unless these increasing public rejections wake him up a bit as to the state of his team.

Maybe I’m wrong about this. We’ll see.

As for Penn specifically, I would’ve been on board but I wouldn’t have been giddy or anything. I liked his reputation for using his CBA knowledge to creatively construct trades, as I’m convinced the Wolves need to do some wheeling and dealing here. And working under Jerry West and Kevin Pritchard is a plus. But I wasn’t convinced he was the savior or anything. I’d be much more excited with Hinkie, I think.