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Wolves Introduce Milt Newton as GM

Minnesota Timberwolves President Flip Saunders introduces former Wizards colleague Milt Newton as the team's new General Manager.

By Tim Faklis
Rob Carr

The Timberwolves officially introduced Milt Newton as the new General Manager in a Minneapolis press conference today.

Newton served the past 10 years in Washington, where he has served as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Wizards. He  worked with Wolves President Flip Saunders when he coached the team between 2009 and 2012.

"We wanted to bring in people that has high character, high morals, high work ethic," Saunders said at the press conference. "I've known (Newton) for a long time. Similar to our owner Glen Taylor, he's somebody that's started and worked his way up the ladder."

His career in basketball most notably began when he won a national championship as a starter with Larry Brown's Kansas Jayhawks in 1988, a team starred by Danny Manning.

He started his work as a basketball executive in 1995 as the Assistant Director for the USA Basketball Men's National Team programs. From there, he worked briefly with the Philadelphia 76ers as a scout. He was also a key cog in the formation of the NBDL, servicing as Director of Player Personnel for three years.

"There's a lot of work to be done for this organization to get to a point where we can win and win consistently," Newton said. "I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

One thing Saunders made a key point during the press conference was his hope to bring in a "melting pot of ideas" to work in the front office. According to the new Wolves' President, Newton plays into that.

"I want to be challenged. I don't want someone to just always agree with what I'm saying."

A couple other notes:

  • Flip regarding status of Rick Adelman "When I talk to him, we really don't bring up (the idea of) him not coming back. All we talk about what we are doing moving forward. As I said from the day I took this job, and as I say here today, I'm very confident that Rick is going to be back."
  • Newton's wife is a native of Minnesota, and her parents have lived in Minnetonka for the past 30 years.
  • Former Gopher, Wolf, and Sacramento King Bobby Jackson is back with the Wolves as a player development coach, and has been in town the last few days working with several players including Chase Budinger and Gorgui Dieng.