The Wolves’ FO strategy:

“Shop Smart…Shop K(ahn)-mart.”

Where they put more and more stones on your chest to force a confession during the Salem Witch Trials. The Wolves just threw another rock on and whispered “still a fan”?

Assuming he sticks to the business aspects of the organization. If we retain Hoiberg and others and retain the committee approach that has proven successful in Portland, San Antonio, and other places, this may not be so bad.

D-E-M-O-R-A-L-I-Z-E-D F-A-N-B-A-S-E

most depressing knews all off season from all four teams.

I remember reading reports that David Kahn had a big ego, but the fact that he’s such an obvious consolation “prize” means his ego can’t be that big right? RIGHT???

…and I can’t get over thinking about how this is Stern’s recommendation because the team will make an arena push before they move and that this is the type of guy to do something like that. At least I put up the updated building a winner post before this went public:

Hoopus Prediction:

The Wolves will maintain their current front office structure while promoting Fred Hoiberg to GM. They will eventually bring in a business-oriented candidate for the head of Basketball Operations but this person will likely be a candidate who has been out of the league and wants back in, a’la Randy Pfund or David Kahn. For reasons that may never be known to fans, Glen Taylor seems to have his sights set on a collaborative culture and we think that this, rather than issues relating to Kevin McHale, is the main reason why they are having such a hard time bringing in a new head of Basketball Ops. In many ways, a collaborative pitch with a clock ticking towards the draft and important free agency deadlines is a pretty hard thing to sell. From a logistical stand point, there may be a date of no return for many potential candidates who seek to bring in a new way of doing things. One of the biggest selling points the team has is its wealth of future assets. Unfortunately, many of these assets will have to be deployed on or shortly after draft day.

Sam Mitchell will be coach by Tuesday.

Nobody will get ’Sota buzzing quite like David Kahn! Any time you can lock down a retread no-name GM, you gotta do it

…from Knickerblogger:

So, What’s Wrong with the NBA?

As commissioner, I’d focus my efforts on what I see as the league’s two major problems under my purview.

1. Executive Talent. The biggest long- and short-term problem for the NBA is a serious shortage of executive talent. As I said in a 2007 post:

    If I could play David Stern…, rather than tinker with playoff formats I’d look to find ways to replenish the pool of talented executives entering the league.

I would stake my legacy on creating a system to find and develop new executive talent both for the league office and the teams. Despite being light years ahead of MLB and the NFL in its hiring practices, NBA hiring is still pretty cliquish and that is a primary reason so many franchises remain stuck in mediocrity or worse. Teams just keep turning over the same set of guys and a few of their proteges. Although the number of truly wretched GMs in the league has dwindled, a lot of older executives need replacing–or will soon.

…should be Pay the Turndown. For each candidate that turns the team down, the price of a season ticket increases by a dollar. $4 tickets sounds just about right for Kahn.

http://www.twolvesblog.com/200905202162/minnesota-timberwolves/articles/why-not-bill-simmons.html

This is so freaking depressing. What a desperate act. I’m actually embarrassed by this.

I’d like to see what it would take for a group of fans to buy the team and then put it in a public trust, like the Green Bay Packers.

Way to score some primo PR points, Glen.

it’s that perhaps this will force Glen to try to energize the fan base with a big(ger) FA signing or trade, rather than trying to build/maintain interest in unusable first-round picks, prospective Euros coming over in a few years, or cap space during the Economic Winter.

On the other hand, if he stands pat, at the best case he can say that he’s tired of losing money, and is looking to get back to “break-even” before investing more in the team. In the worst case, his unwillingness to spend money and the hiring of Kahn are attempts to hold the Cities hostage for a new arena, or reduce fan interest enough to the point where when the team is sold and moved, no one will care enough to hold it against him.

That McHale might be happy to escape this franchise when he did/does? I thought it would be almost impossible to get worse, and then I remembered that I’m a TWolves fan and not a Blazers, Rockets, hell name any other team’s fan.

As if my day couldn’t get any worse … man…

No hope for a “Kahn has withdrawn from the gm search”?

Got a new picture instead of the “we want to believe” one.

SnP/Wyn and co. -

I’m struck dumb.
I feel like Steinbeck’s Lenny, ‘cept I wanna squarsh a baker’s dozen of mini Crunch dolls.

When it comes to these topics, I am comfortable admitting my relative ignorance about NBA operations and the motives of the Wolves inner sanctum, as the vast majority of my information and “knowledge” comes through the media filter, hearsay, and barstool conjecture…but what the frak is going on?

It reminds of a back-and-forth between O’Reily and Letterman:

BIll O: “Do you want to win this war?”

(Letterman pauses, finger to lips)

BIll: “It’s an easy question—”

Letterman (interrupting): “—No, its not an easy question because I’m thoughtful.”

(Audience laughs with Dave and at Bill)

When it comes to the Wolves, we suck on both sides of this, because based on the latest news, it seems like we don’t care about winning, and we’re happy to not think too hard about it. We’re neither a hawk or a dove; and that makes us a bloated, constipated albatross*.

*post negative-rant ibid: with Al and Love and a few role players and expiring contracts and cap space and one heckuva a skyway system…so, like the rest of these mutts, I remain a fan.

…to the Washington Generals tomorrow.

My photoshop plans… ruined.

… looking forward to a really good plate of BBQ and ending up with a McRib.

Let’s here some more “this is likes”

David Kahn

Good Lord. Somebody just turn out the lights on this team. I’m actually pissed at myself for getting my hopes up about this. What a waste of time.

Please God, let it be a minimal contract. If all our fears are confirmed and this guy’s just an NBA boys club cigar chomper, it’d be nice to try this again soon.

The first thing I thought about when I heard about the hire was their “he just doesn’t get it” comment about Bill Simmons. Honestly, when it comes to how this team is perceived or connecting with the pulse of this fanbase, how does this hire “get it”?

I lived in Chicago during the “TerriBulls” early 00’s era, and actually enjoyed that team, as they toiled in relative obscurity in that market. Maybe I’ll have to hitch my wagon to Derrick Rose and Co.

….I now have a great appreciation as to why local sports teams get away with the things they get away with: guys like Mark Rosen and Sid. The original ducky and bunny.

I’m really trying to remain optimistic, and give Kahn the benefit of the doubt, but this picture just screams “doosh” to me:

(and I don’t mean the sound a basketball makes when it swishes through the net)

“I’d hire Sam Mitchell tomorrow.”

Why?

“He understands the temperament of the fans here and he’s a no nonsense guy.”

Why is our media populated by idiots? When drawing up a good out of bounds play, it’s important to know how the fans feel about it.

While I do have my doubts about Khan..I think he’s alot better than McHale was..Now if McHale doesn’t come back and we Maybe Hire a guy like Mo Cheeks or Sam Mitchell…I would like this guy.

Interesting Question: what do you guys think of the thought of Mo Cheeks as coach?

Trade for Hinrich immediately!!! Anyone that has seen Star Trek 2 knows that Kirk ends up killing Khan. It would take about 2 hours, and then we begin searching again…