April Fools!
by Stop-n-Pop on Apr 2, 2011 7:29 AM CDT
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PrintThat would be the new name for Wolves fans if they swallow this nonsense:
The Timberwolves have won only 32 games over the past two seasons, but President David Kahn said the team still can attract quality players.
"I'm not concerned about our ability, now and in the future, to be able to attract a high-quality player here," Kahn said. "I think this city has a lot going for it. I think the weather is overstated. We have an indoor sport.
"We have a lot of players on our team right now who I think chose to come here. Luke Ridnour chose to come here.Anthony Randolph, from what I understand from his agent, was very excited about the ability to come here when there was a lot of trade talk.
"Michael Beasley told me just last week he loves it here, much better than Miami (where he played last season)."
Kahn, in his second year with the Wolves, remains determined to build a winner. He expects his team to contend for a playoff spot next season.
"I think what's important is that we have a first-class organization, that we build a winning program — and we have a lot of work to do in that area — but I still see there are brighter days ahead, and that we'll be able to attract our fair share of high-quality players," Kahn said.
We even get one of these:
"Historically in our league, there have been very, very few players who actually have chosen a place based on its location," Kahn said. "You can say Miami was chosen as a location (by James and Chris Bosh). I disagree with that. I think the reason Miami was chosen was because Dwyane Wade happened to be there.
Playoffs, free agency destination...next year. Of course, this was the same thing the team was saying last year:
#5 ME (via Wile E. Coyote): How is the team planning to define success next year? From a fan perspective, if next year is not about trying to win games and put the most competitive rotation on the floor, I will not watch. I cannot stand another year of abstract player evaluation, zero accountability for wins, and a general tank-a-thon to yet another draft.
CW: We've got to compete for a playoff spot next year. That is success on the court and with the potential of Rubio the year after, and one more round of free agency, and lotto in the event that we don't make the playoffs; all that being said, I think we will compete for the playoffs next year at this time and if we do not, I will be very disappointed. With this comes expectations of attendance. I think we should be averaging 16k people again.
Last night the Wolves had their most entertaining half of basketball against the Heat. They were aggressive, played decent defense (at times), made a nice rally, shot a bunch of 3s, and went to the half with the lead. Then the Heat decided that they were going to stop fooling around with no-look passes and loose play and they put the hammer down with a 25-1 run after the half.
Wheeeeeeeee!!!
For more April Fool's fun, here's an extended audio interview with Kahn on KFAN where he amazingly continues to talk in public about this team. Congratulations fans, you're stuck with this crew for another year. Hooray!
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Flynn be gone
After hearing pieces of that Kahn interview there is zero chance that Flynn is back next year. Not a big surprise but I was glad that Kahn finally admitted drafting him was a mistake. Sure wish he would have taken the blame for drafting him though. It sounded to me like he was trying to blame the scouts and other front office personnel for the decision.
by jama on Apr 2, 2011 7:41 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Really he was blaming the timing, wasn't he?
What he says there is that he got hired when he did, and felt McHale needed to be handled with some sensitivity, so he didn’t have the coach in place. Nothing about scouts and the existing F.O. that I remember.
He leads off by accepting blame for everything (‘all roads have to lead to me’), but he doesn’t quite put up the roadsigns on that one, does he?
It’s frustrating to have to repeat this every so often, but there were reasons independent of anyone’s coaching system for which Jonny Flynn was not a good pick at that point. Independent of Rubio, too. That was a basic talent evaluation problem.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Heaven forbid
That an actual interviewer say this.
there were reasons independent of anyone’s coaching system for which Jonny Flynn was not a good pick at that point. Independent of Rubio, too. That was a basic talent evaluation problem.
If it wasn't for Jordan Farmar and that guy Kevin Love, I would've killed somebody!
Plus, it doesn't change the fact that Kahn rated Flynn as the third best player in the draft...
Behind only Griffin and Rubio
Patiently waiting for a new POBO
Exactly: this is a talent evaluation boner, not a "He didn't fit what we're doing" bad fit.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
At least they won't put up statues
At least the Wolves won’t put up statues of KLove all over town like the twins did with Mauer. My kingdom for Glen to take down the Sanford sign and replace it with one that says “BOOOOO!”
by fanslaststand on Apr 2, 2011 8:31 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Points I took from the conversation with Kahn (Kahnversation?)
- Kahn says defense will be addressed. He mentioned adding a veteran (I don’t think he ever mentions adding more than 1 vet), also mentions that players need to be taught defensive fundamentals and not just game plans.
- Kahn says “There is undeniable improvement from a number of players”. I think the only player who has undeniably improved is Love, and Kahn credits Kurt for working with him in the Summer. He says the team has to improve as a group and not individually, like chemistry. I wonder what the other undeniable improvements are.
- Kahn says we have improved our 3pt % against. For me personally, I’m not one to crunch a lot of numbers, but teams shoot a lot of 3’s against us and make a lot of 3’s. I think we need more improvements.
- Kahn says 13 games were thrown away. We need to start winning close games. He doesn’t expect to win all of them, but you have to win more than we have. Again, he says signing a vet will address this.
- Kurt’s style is looking 5 years out. He says it is not okay, we need to improve more rapidly. Again says we will have a vet and improve defensively. For me, 5 years? Playing for your vision of what the team will be 5 years from now? Yeah I am coming into a new situation, the fan base is hungry, I’ll start cooking this pizza for them, it’ll be done in 5 years. He is out of touch.
- Kahn says turnovers are ridiculous. Credits them to the new offense and says that it is new ball movement that players haven’t been asked to do before. Players aren’t ready and it needs to be simplified. I would say this would be an okay answer at the beginning of the season, but it is almost the end and the team is still coughing up the ball far too frequently, and it’s not really getting better.
- He says feeding Darko has to be addressed. He also says that this summer will be the biggest for Darko and Wes. I think he wants to see Darko really commit to improvement and work hard like he thought he would this season. I was glad to hear something besides praise for him.
- “When Darko is out with foul trouble against Amar’e, Bargnani, and Blake Griffin we have nobody to guard them. We’re done.” This is something I found scary. We’re done unless we have Darko against certain style of players. Yes, there are styles of players who Darko matches up well with, but “We’re done”? That is some overvaluing of Darko that I expected.
- Rubio comes to MN to start career. He is very clear about it.
- 17 win team, not in position to say anything good. The team needs a jump next year. This got me thinking, what does his resume look like right now?
- Kahn says he thinks KLove can still improve a lot more. He can work on a low post game and get a counter move for his hook. He loves his BBIQ. Repeats nobody saw Kevin Love’s improvement coming.
- Don’t anticipate KLove trouble resigning. He has to say this.
- 1 thing to change hire coach before first draft, coach would probably not pick Flynn. Takes accountability for decision on Flynn. I think Jonny is done here in MN after this year! Finally! Talk about addition by subtraction.
Let's do away with one thing right away
The only way Kahn takes accountability for Flynn is if he falls on his sword. The reason this guy can say all of this stuff is because there is no accountability. With the CBA uncertainty and minority owners not wanting ti give Glen any more money, he knows he’s not getting fired anytime soon. He can blow a quarter of the franchise’s first round picks wi th no average starters to show for it, blow through the most point guard heavy draft in drecent memory looking for a point guard and being unable to find one (he’ll continue to inflate the Rubio bubble which will really destroy the fan base when he comes over and is meh at best), say insane things about Darko, Webster, and Flynn, etc, and if he’s not already gone, he’s not going anywhere soon. It’s crazy.
That's Mr. Downer to you.
www.canishoopus.com
The thing for me is
Especially this time of year there are tons of “Offseason ideas” fanposts. Some of the things to create an ideal situation are realistic. He recognizes that the coaching is the cause to turnovers and the players are having trouble meshing with Rambis both offensively and defensively. The realistic and ideal situation would be to get a new coach, yet it doesn’t happen. Also with drafting, I understand there will be draft busts, but with picks #4,5,6,18,28,30,45, and 47 in 2 years and not one quality starter? There needs to be accountability.
#4,#5 and #6
There it is.
It’s hard to sign top NBA free agents here, To say anything else is BS.
The ONLY way we become a title contender is to hit it big in the draft. 3 swings, 3 misses so far. That may change if Rubio comes overs and lights it up. But as of now Kahn’s record is 0 for 3.
There is slow pressure on stars out to big cities
but there are plenty of small market teams that get superstars. They don’t stay there forever if the team is run poorly, but there are the Garnett’s and the Duncan’s and the Lebrons. Kahn is right that we can get a star here if we drop some money.
"Nobody saw Kevin Love's improvement coming"
Seriously? I guess we should not hold out much hope that Khan and the rest of the staff will ever be able to identify NBA caliber players in the draft when they could not even identify that Love was their best player.
Also, that Flynn line is garbage.
Pardon my french: what a load of shit.
If you can’t spot talent as an NBA GM you don’t get to have the job. Flynn is a lousy pick because he can’t play professional basketball well. It has nothing to do with Rambis’ system or anything a coach would convey.
Flynn was a SHITTY pick at #6. End of story. And if Kahn wants to take responsibility for the pick he should say “I made a bad pick there” not “if we had a coach in he would have saved me.”
What a half-hearted bullshit deflection of accountability masquerading as accountability.
Sorry, I think I just used up my swear words quota for the year here on CH. A season’s worth of frustrations boiling over.
by Django Z on Apr 2, 2011 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Bleep, bleeping, bleeper and bleeping bleeper bleeper...
…are my favorite four letter words.
As fun as it always is to hear an executive say
“the buck stops here” when the company is tanking, the next day the reality is that the company and it’s policies still suck like a hoover vacuum. Then the question will always be what caused the disaster? If the response is the implementation of policies or the loss of focus on core principles, spend all your energy getting your resume together and catching up with aquaintances in your field!
What I’m aluding to here is that the executive doesn’t get the real problem. It isn’t just that the players are young and need time to develop, or that one or two pieces haven’t come together yet but will soon, or even that the coaches aren’t utilizing the players properly in order best use their skills. The real problem IMHO, is that not only don’t we have the talent to compete for the playoffs, we don’t seem to have a clue how to go about getting or properly using the talent.
When things are that far out of whack and the folks in charge don’t recognize it, and there is no sign that the owner gets it, things will continue to get worse before they get better. That is where we are at for the foreseeable future.
All we as fans can really do at this point is to keep the pressure on and vote with our dollars. I do have to admit that the thought of picketing 600 1st Ave. North.before the season opener next fall has some appeal though. My sign might say something like"Save the CH community for Psrosis- Field a real team!".
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
by Dogpile on Apr 2, 2011 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs
Well put
Nothing has changed and they’re saying and doing the same things they were doing last year.
That's Mr. Downer to you.
www.canishoopus.com
Excellent and well put.
Failure to recognize the depth of the problems just means more of the same hoping for a miracle. More of the same activity masquerading as progress.
Undeniable improvement? I can certainly deny it. Undeniable stagnation seems more accurate.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 2, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Reced up- might describe the Wolves this year,
But it’s a first for me. Thanks all!
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
From psrosis- is what I meant to say
For psrosis is what the FO is currently doingM
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
cirrhosis?
"The journey of 1000 miles, begins with a TWolves loss. If I waited for a victory, I'd never get started"
I can't hear about Sir Darknesses defense one more time.
his defense is terrible along with teams. Wolves D was brutal in November but it wasn’t addressed then, why is it going to be addressed this summer? All the non Minnesota reports I read on Rubio, tell a story of a once teen star who’s struggling for over 2 years now. Rubio’s stats are underwhelming. This is a new pile of dog poop in another package with a bow on it….. same ole same ole……..
There are some very negative people on here writing revisionist history. First Last year Rubio had a good year. he developed nicely. This year has not been good, but before we take a shot gun to the kid we need to ask why. What I have seen of Barca they are a half court team. They slow the pace down and no one seems to think this style of play is best for Rubio. He’s had a rough year. Second of all I got the impression thru phrases like ’he better figure it out" that I would expect the offense to change next year. If the team does not improve its win total drastically Rambis will not survive the season. I would say he has 20 games.
The problem with darko is largely the offense and that stupid hook shot and his failure to be aggresive and take the ball to the rim. His defense is not great, but the team defense is terrible. They need a vet who always shows consistent effort. They also need someone to go to when they go 0 – 15 to start 3rd quarters. This is when you need go to players which I am not convinced they have a go to scorer. I would be half tempted to draft Barnes and Jimmer and see which one can just score consistently when things go terrible for everyone else.
All he was saying is there needs to be improvement.
The fact that Kahn shows he's still in love with Rubio
and thinks that there is a lot of upside to Darko, Wes, and Randolph is the scariest part of the podcast.
His back to the basics defense plan for this Summer is also a hoot. Have we really been overwhelming players with complicated schemes tailored to each opponents style of play? That’s got to rank up there at the top of insane ideas I’ve heard this season!
The only discernable defensive strategy I’ve seen this year is to guard the dribbler at the top of the key and then have everybody run to the post as soon as the ball enters it and then have the one guy who remembers run out to the three point shooter just in time to foul him after the release. It must have taken hours of practice time to develop that strategy properly!
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
I disagree on Darko, his defense is as bad as his offense
He won’t even sprint back on D in close games. The last 6-8 articles on Rubio have all stated the kid has struggled badly. How is that revisionist history?
"This year"
fits into the time-frame of “since we drafted him.” The disagreement here might just be imprecision in semantics.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Apr 2, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
His stats are the same in 2010 as this year. He was voted most disappointing
player for Spanish nation team last summer. None of us get a chance to watch him much, so we have to go on what we read.
I watch him all the time
and to an extent, I agree with you. He was OK last season, not great. This year has been a clear regression. I’m not ready to write his basketball obituary at age 20; if you watch him, you can still see the ability.
Still, he isn’t a savior. My hope is that he’s better at getting guys shots than any point they have had recently.
I agree with you on Darko; his defense really isn’t that good.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 2, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions
What do you see as Rubio's ceiling?
Jennings sucked in Europe and while he isn’t all that in MIL, I would take it over what we have now (Flynn). Rubio’s style of play is suited for the NBA. We should just give him the ball and let him work. Heck, we don’t even need a coach. Rambis will just screw it up. Just let this kid drive and create. At least it will be entertaining.
*Pssst*
The Brandon Jennings to Rubio comparison is losing its luster. People wrote the book on him after his first month and forgot to check back to make sure he was actually good. He’s a below-average NBA PG, folks. Sub .500 TS% and assist numbers worse than those of the much-maligned Luke Ridnour. If a point guard’s not good at scoring or facilitating, he’s not good.
If it wasn't for Jordan Farmar and that guy Kevin Love, I would've killed somebody!
See also
Mayo, OJ for more on the phenomenon of people establishing who a player is as a first month rookie and then never revisiting their assessment. Players have hot months people.
I'll see your Mayo and raise you a Cousins
His evaluation occurred before his first NBA game and hasn’t changed since. They said “he’s a headcase, but he’s the most productive player in the draft.” The headcase part came true, so everyone decided that the production did too. Meanwhile, he’s the worst offensive player in the league.
If it wasn't for Jordan Farmar and that guy Kevin Love, I would've killed somebody!
But Cousins has a clear, observable path to getting much better
After all young players with TO issues often turn out just fine
(Rondo actually still has quite a beefy turnover rate, come to that.)
This year it’s 4% higher than his rookie number, which was 20.5% or so. Big names at PG do cough the ball up some.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
TO rate is a little goofy though for PGs who don't shoot a ton
as it is basically who many times you turn it over given how many shots you get up, some ratio of FTAs and assists. Describing Nash’s TOs as problematic when his assist/TO rate is greater than three seems nutty.
FWIW, on Tax Day for years me and some friends decide who the worst (regular) player in the NBA has been every year. We each advocate for our candidates in their respective jersey. There are points to be made for less obvious choices. Finding a Earl Watson Jazz jersey is not easy.
Okay, that event sounds pretty awesome.
Why can’t you hold it at a team’s draft party, though? Get an audience somehow.
“Less obvious choices.” So no Jonny. Fair enough.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Yeah the rules are roughly
Nobody still on their rookie deal (coaches are often forced to play lottery picks in this situation) and nobody coming off an injury.
Looks like
Someone’s getting a fresh #31 T-wolves jersey this year.
And "regular." Let's see... Corey's eligible now!
You won’t go as easy as him or Petro, though.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I'd go with a
Rambis Laker jersey
, said Mplax.
Rubio has upside, it is true
But I haven’t seen anything to indicate that his upside is at the level of CP3, Rose, Wall, or even Westbrook. He is a nice player, but not going to be the one player that gets us to playoff caliber. We need much more talent to reach that point.
And better coaching needs to be in place before he arrives, period.
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
50 degree day with sun today,
I’m going outside to revel in it! Later…..
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
Same old stuff new day...
It is amazing how similar everything Kahn is saying lately compared to the end of last season. Love is the only player to improve while most others have degressed in their play. That is the result of coaching! Rambis can not improve his players.
Waiting for Relevancy...
What veteran are they going to get that's going to change the culture?
This is mind boggling to me. You want a culture of accountability? Fire Kahn, fire Rambis and go get someone with a proven track record. If they think Raja Bell is going to create a “culture” for the players or this franchise, they’re deluded. What is Raja going to do, tell Kahn to do his f*cking job? “Hey, Kahn, what the hell are you doing? Don’t trade/sign for me!”
This is the problem
Getting a veteran that is actually still good (not great, but good), who will embrace what is needed here (as opposed to being pissed that they are stuck on a team this bad as their career clock is ticking) seems next door to impossible.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 2, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
How about Vince Carter? %%%%%%%%
(Had to make sure that wasn’t misinterpreted).
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Apr 2, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
That would be awful as well.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Apr 2, 2011 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions
He's probably just mad he let Etan Thomas and Kevin Ollie go last year...
OKC acquired them and look how much they improved!!
Patiently waiting for a new POBO
"Hey, Kahn, what the hell are you doing? Don’t trade/sign for me!"
If only. :P
If it wasn't for Jordan Farmar and that guy Kevin Love, I would've killed somebody!
Sure sounds like Kahn and Rambis are in for another year
Hard to believe they would allow that to happen after this disaster. What if we end the season on a 15 game losing streak?
Patiently waiting for a new POBO
I might be the one guy here who actually likes David Kahn. =P
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
I've been in that exclusive club
Not so much anymore, but he is not as bad as all the haters say. Among the problems with this club, he is about at #5 or #6. And I’ll bet Taylor is happy with Kahn’s management style, he’s careful with a buck.
Don't worry if Wolves end season on 15 game slide
that’ll somehow fit “the plan”. No matter the scenario, if you listen to Kahn, it’s all according to “the plan”. His statement if I had a coach I wouldn’t have taken Flynn is perfect. After he took Flynn, he said he’d be a defensive minded CP3, he said Flynn’s leadership was the best in draft, Kahn stated he and Rubio would be Ainge and D Johnson. So a coach sitting next to him in draft room would’ve changed how he felt about Flynn completely???? It’s like when your buddy says to you “how’d you let me marry that lady”? You answer, “nobody made you”, that was your choice. Kahn wants you to believe if a coach was with him, he wouldn’t have felt that way about Flynn…. Really???? As I said some poop, different package.
I think Kahn was a snakeoil salesman in a prior life.
Honestly, how many cities have attracted a true marquee FA in recent history? Shaq to LAL. Nash to Suns. LeBron and Bosh to Miami. Amare to NYK. I’m sure I’m missing some others, but the point is Kahn needs to figure out how teams like Portland, OKC, Utah, San Antonio, etc make their models ticks.
I just watched the free throw where nobody moved and LBJ grabbed
ball and dunked it….. I had long since turned channel at that point, how embarrassing.
Saw it live, and laughed.
Even Bosh didn’t know the ball was live. Something was screwy there.
Tiny, distilled moments that describe a whole season are not so few and far between. That was one of them. The Wolves were confused, didn’t know what to do, and of course they were too apathetic to go through the motions. Their opponent could hardly bother, and still got an unlikely stuff in a totally routine situation.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
It's getting ridiculous with Kahn. There is literally nothing he could say
that would make you guys happy.
When he says, “I expect Rubio to come over next year,”
you guys say, “Ahh, Rubio’s a bum anyway. He’s no good.”
When he says, “Our defense needs to be better,”
you guys say, “You should’ve fixed that sooner!”
When he says, “I take full responsibility”
you expect that he’ll hand in his resignation letter.
It’s torches and pitchforks right now.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
by TimAllen on Apr 2, 2011 12:50 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
You're right
and that’s why I’ve stopped caring what he says. He has a product to sell and a reputation to defend. He’s not going to just come out and say that the team he built is a giant pile of shit. I don’t think there’s anything he could say that would make me feel better about the team, so what’s the point of coming up with penetrating questions and parsing his words?
Absolute apathy
Sounds good. The only reason I posted this was because I couldn’t think f anything worthwhile to write about the game on a nice day. It’s just that his tenure is sooooooooooooooo amazingly awful and he is sooooooooooooo cartoonishly inept at his job, that….well, the Wolves need to split their remaining games to avoid this list:
Most Losses, Two Consecutive Seasons
140 — Dallas 1992-93 (71) and 1993-94 (69)
135 — Vancouver 1995-96 (67) and 1996-97 (68)
135 — L.A. Clippers 1986-87 (70) and 1987-88 (65)
132 — Chicago 1999-00 (65) and 2000-01 (67)
132 — Denver 1996-97 (61) and 1997-98 (71)
131 — Vancouver 1996-97 (68) and 1997-98 (63)
131 — Dallas 1991-92 (60) and 1992-93 (71)
131 — Miami 1988-89 (67) and 1989-90 (64)
130 — Minnesota 1991-92 (67) and 1992-93 (63)
130 — Philadelphia 1972-73 (73) and 1973-74 (57)
That's Mr. Downer to you.
www.canishoopus.com
If that's not torches and pitchforks worthy ( at least in NBA terms)
Then nothing is (again, in NBA terms). They could end up tied for the 4th worst 2 year record in NBA history. This is on top of the bad drafting, inept coaching, terrible system, crazy comments, awful conference and division records since KG, etc . This is happening to your favorite team. Right now.
That's Mr. Downer to you.
www.canishoopus.com
They need to do something!
For the people that watched all 132 diggers.
I’m thinking put em on a float for the Holidazzle. Or maybe the Twins can give them statues like they did for Mauer.
by fanslaststand on Apr 2, 2011 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Sadly that isn't our job
but it is the job of people interviewing David Kahn when he talks about the team. Here’s a penetrating question I would like answered from Kahn and, for that matter, any number of Canis Hoopus posters and front pagers.
How off is your talent evaluation Mr Kahn that you extended a player’s rookie deal for 3.7M and then in a season and a half later he ended up on a contender and that team elected to not dress him game after game? Corey isn’t even receiving DNP-CDs – they aren’t even giving him a uniform.
This team’s problem is talent evaluation. Kahn looks at Martell Webster and sees a player 150% better than he has ever been over many minutes in POR. Kahn and Rambis look at Darko and make the same mistake. Ditto Corey. Same with Wes. Same with Jonny. Almost certainly will be the case with Harrison Barnes this year.
My biggest concern is that in this interview Kahn was unwilling to state the utterly obvious: the team is bereft of legitimate NBA talent besides Love and a few others and except Love (whom he tried to trade away for flotsam and jetsam) he is individually responsible for every player on the roster.
I think those are valid points
but I see no benefit in asking Kahn about them. What’s he going to say? “Yup, I’m a total fraud. I’ve been working on bringing in people to help hide that. It hasn’t worked yet, but I’m still trying.”
The job of a journalist is indeed to get to the truth
and relay that to their audience. That is the responsibility of the interviewer here. Sure Kahn could have elected to dodge. But that doesn’t remove the reporter’s responsibility to ask the pertinent questions.
When I wrote this
My biggest concern is that in this interview Kahn was unwilling to state the utterly obvious: the team is bereft of legitimate NBA talent besides Love and a few others and except Love (whom he tried to trade away for flotsam and jetsam) he is individually responsible for every player on the roster.
I meant that would allow me to view this upcoming off season in a positive way. That Kahn could admit his methods had failed would likely mean that he is looking for better methods right? Put away the tape measure and the talk about length and, you know, acquire some productive NBA basketball players at market rates.
We're still working too hard to stop and sharpen the axe.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Well yes, the poor journalists who need to keep paying attention
have to ask, and ought to do a good job of it. I just don’t find Kahn to be very credible at this point. For example, he expresses a high degree of certainty that Rubio will be here next year. I don’t see how he could know that. I hope he’s right, but I just don’t believe him at this point. So no, I don’t think I would have felt much better if he’d admitted past mistakes and said he’s changing his ways. Talk is cheap, and his has been on clearance for a while now.
I agree.
First off, I kind of like the guy personally. Honest. If he and I were sitting at a game, we’d be able to watch it together and kick stuff around.
But in the end, it’s not that he can say some of the right stuff. It’s not that he sometimes skirts responsibility a little, or whatever other little foibles come up in these appearances. (I’m pretty impressed with the job P.A. and [who is that?] did here, incidentally. They asked some pointed questions, stuck to them sometimes, and kept the relationship cool through it.)
Kahn has to produce, though. Talk all you want, you have to make good choices. He’s tap dancing, and half of the curtain behind him has burned and fallen to the floor in ashes. It’s hard to appreciate the dance.
There’s literally nothing he can say. He has to produce.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
True enough
There is nothing he can say. He really should do no interviews at all; it just serves to piss most of us off.
In the face of 2 historically bad seasons, he is unable to sugar coat it. I don’t blame him for that, I blame him for the bad seasons.
Still, “this is Darko’s biggest summer” is just red flag for a bull. Darko is not a good player. How much more evidence is needed? You blew that, and are still trying to cover it up. As for “we have to be better” damn. straight. And damn straight you should have fixed it sooner. The fact that you didn’t is an indictment of your ability to do this job.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 2, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Well there is a problem here, right?
Still, "this is Darko’s biggest summer" is just red flag for a bull. Darko is not a good player. How much more evidence is needed? You blew that, and are still trying to cover it up. As for "we have to be better" damn. straight. And damn straight you should have fixed it sooner. The fact that you didn’t is an indictment of your ability to do this job.
This was hogwash and known hogwash before the Wolves ever resigned Darko. People have done the work – players do not grow wings with any consistency once they have reached Darko’s age and minutes played profile. Thinking that Darko stood a good chance of being a better player than he had been everywhere else he played was foolish last summer no matter how often it was repeated by Kahn and here by various people.
And, yes, those same people will argue for another season for Darko. And more time to see who Wes “really is” and maybe a fully healthy Flynn, etc.
Sure, it was a problem last summer for exactly the reasons you cite
but the fact that he hasn’t apparently developed any understanding of how and when players improve and how and when they do not since last year is just further incitement (for me) to despise the way he does his job.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 2, 2011 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Exactly
Upthread I suggested that if Kahn had come out and admitted his mistakes I would be much more hopeful. At least then he might start looking for better methods to achieve better results. Now? Now we are going to get served a Harrison Barnes sandwich and be told to like it
He was more than willing to admit Rambis' mistakes though...
While in the same interview claiming to not be finger pointing
Patiently waiting for a new POBO
Yes, he was candid about those to the point of bluntness.
“He better.”
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I don't see any problem with that.
It would foolish of him not to accept some responsibility, but at the same time, he should also hold Rambis accountable. There’s no contradiction there.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
I guess I viewed it as contradictory...
He was pretty specific when it came to Rambis, but pretty ambiguous when it came to himself. I can’t really hold it against him though. The guy is on the verge of getting fired and will be completely unemployable after that happens.
Patiently waiting for a new POBO
See, I didn't think he was very ambiguous. I thought he
clearly laid a lot of blame on himself.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
OK
First off, I think both Rambis and Kahn should be fired. I’m not a fan of their methods, results, or faces. But for Kahn to “take the blame” on specifics, he’s going to have to throw players that are still on the team under the bus. You can’t come out and say “Jonny Flynn was a mistake” – the dude’s still on the team. Same goes for Darko, and choosing Wes over other guys. No need to piss those guys off, as bad as the decisions to acquire them may have been.
If my choices are a Harrison Barnes sandwich, a Jimmer Fredette hoagie, a Kemba Walker sub, or a Perry Jones cheesesteak
I’m cool with the Barnes. I might be talked into a Kanter smoothie.
by googoleeoottooooleeoottooooleeeatta on Apr 2, 2011 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I agree. I think Barnes is going to be pretty darn good in the pros.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
I'd rather try the Kyrie Irving wrap myself.
With a hearty dab of mustard but no Mayo…
Rambis and Kahn- when do we get to say tanks for the memories?
"The Big Summer"
Darko probably won’t get much better this summer. That doesn’t mean he can’t be used more effectively. For example, one simple change I would make as a coach is to take him entirely out of the right block. Why? Because his only move from there is the baseline hook – which is a terrible terrible shot. Rambis can’t seem to figure that one out.
Also, I don’t think most Wolves fan were drinking the Darko cool-aid all that deeply during the offeason. I think most of us said was that for the price, he was a good acquisition. Admittedly, cooler heads did not prevail during his hot streak.
Personally I think our offseason should be used to address the backcourt…between Love, Darko, Pek, Tolliver, and AR, Kahn has given Rambis some pieces.
Can one "not inhale" Kool-Aid?
Also, I don’t think most Wolves fan were drinking the Darko cool-aid all that deeply during the offeason.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I normally do not inhale Kool-Aid
But I have occasionally spit it out my nose
It really is ludicrous sometimes, well said Tim.
Kahn gets trashed for thinking about trading Love before the year, even though the only “talks” we heard about were for Anthony Randolph. And Love didn’t even get traded. Also, really, Kahn should’ve seen what Love’s value was around the league. So doing his job pissed people off.
And instead, Kahn ends up getting Randolph for a guy who wasn’t going to play here past this year – and now someone is crushing him for even signing Brewer to the extension.
by googoleeoottooooleeoottooooleeeatta on Apr 2, 2011 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions
when he said love was at best the 4th best player
I knew Kahn was an idiot or a liar.
When he said Jonny would be the ‘best on ball defender’ in the nba
I knew Kahn was an idiot or a liar.
When he said nobody saw Love’s season coming
I knew he was both an idiot and a liar.
Find me the quote where Kahn said
Jonny would be the best on ball defender in the NBA.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
While that paraphrase needs to be walked back a tiny bit...
… he did say that he expected Jonny to be one of the “great” on-the-ball defenders in “our league.” I’ve watched that draft presser at least four or five times, and it was still available online as of a month ago.
Reference Librarians, Ho!
Kahn said a few different things that draft night. He never said the best on-the-ball defender; he said this:
"Jonny has electricity crackling out of him," Kahn says of the 6-0 quicksilver out of Syracuse. "He’s a much different type of player than Ricky – much more of a scorer’s mentality, but with capabilities of being one of the best on-ball defenders in our league. He’s very physical for his size, very quick, with amazing physical tools."
He also said this:
Timberwolves president David Kahn told jittery supporters he believes Rubio, the fifth overall pick, and Jonny Flynn, the sixth pick, will play off of each other extremely well and ‘together, we will have one of the most dynamic defensive backcourts in the NBA over time.’
In general I think it would be fair to say Kahn mistook Jonny Flynn for a plus defensive player.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
by feral on Apr 2, 2011 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jury still out for me
i am one still hanging onto some optimism. I believe I read here recently that the point differential went from 10 a game last year to around 5 this year. A similar improvement next year and learning to close out more aren’t we in 30 win territory ? Does anyone doubt if we had CP3, Rondo or Rose we would be a 30-40 wins team – maybe more? This is still a bunch of kids in a man’s league. I am more concerned about the coaching than Kahn’s leadership – his development concept is still in the trial stages and not played out yet. The lack of progress individually and team-wise (other than Love) is of great concern to me. Regarding Rubio, I still think he could be special in the NBA. He is playing in a system that doesn’t fit him, is still a kid in a man’s league and he is a lame duck on that team – he is the guy that probably won’t be here next year. I just don’t think he is really a part of that team – surely not long term. Make him a core player and with our athletic players this could be a really fun team to watch with a huge upside. Just my 2 cents
by Jogger on Apr 2, 2011 12:52 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
You're probably right...... Heavy level of frustration.
But, TimAllen, you have to admit some snake oil type statements do come out of his mouth which along with record leads to this negativity.
I think he's about as honest in interviews as any other president/vice president
of a major company.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
Difference is we can see Kahn's books.
With GE for example we can’t see what’s happening behind closed doors and with their accounting. With Kahn, we have 82 audits a year….. So, Kahn, don’t tell me it’s raining while I see you pissing on my leg.
Cool that Ball Don't Lie featured that.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Love the Zen Apprentice's reaction
In case you missed it, he just kept watching with his usual confused ambivalence.
Ha ha. Stoic. What do you write on the white board for that?
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
He was having a nice nap before that sequence
…and he think he’s mildly pissed that he missed it altogether, and he’s wondering what happened.
Maybe we’ll all wake up more refreshed about next October.
Best thing about the team is canishoopus
Ladies and Gentlemen
You’re 2010-2011 Minnesota Timberwolves
"Vote Ailuridae for Wolves GM"
Screw you man!
No I’m not!
If it wasn't for Jordan Farmar and that guy Kevin Love, I would've killed somebody!
by John Doe on Apr 2, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You're reaction
may have been a bit over the top.
, said Mplax.
Flynn's injury
Two things have become clear to me over the last month. First, Flynn is a much better player than he showed coming back initially. Second, he still sucks. But the thing that bothers me the absolute most is that Kahn will not be able to get anything for him…when he very well might have had the injury not occurred. Just one more thing that’s gone wrong.
You can't dust for vomit.
My DVR has 2 Twins games and 2 Wolves games from this weekend on it
What a waste of space.
"The journey of 1000 miles, begins with a TWolves loss. If I waited for a victory, I'd never get started"
Admitting he sucks makes it OK?
Small market teams live and die in the draft. If you cannot draft well no QUALITY vets will come your way. This guy has blown three lottery picks in his first two years. The fact he is willing to fess up to one of those bad picks is no reason for him to stay. This should not be like McFail where he can hang around for a decade by throwing coaches and people in the front office under the bus every other year.
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