Next head coach??

[Scott M]

It's getting interesting. I heard Sid say a week ago that Nelson would never come here because he wouldn't be paid enough. So based on all the other drivel that comes from the octogenarian's mouth, Nellie will be in place by the end of the week.

[Scott K]

It's getting interesting. I heard Sid say a week ago that Nelson would never come here because he wouldn't be paid enough. So based on all the other drivel that comes from the octogenarian's mouth, Nellie will be in place by the end of the week.

So you would rather have Nelson then Adelman? I guess my choice of everyone before I heard Adelman was interested was Nelson, but I would rather have Adelman now that I know he is an option. At this point I would be somewhat disappointed if we didnt get Adelman, but if we sign Nelson instead, I would get over it. I just think Nelson is more of a all run offense, and not worry about defense, sure is fun to watch them play, but I think Adelman will give us more wins at the end of the season, and figure out a good lineup with what we have now.

[Scott M]

I would agree that Adelman is probably the better all around coach, but I just want to watch a fun team. I'm onto the rouse of the NBA, that small market or cold weather teams will never win a championship under current league and management rules, so I just want to have an entertaining product. This is a complete different philosophy for me since Garnett has left. Adelman is like Flip, a successful regular season coach. I think most in MN would take that. I really don't care who is calling the plays as long as things are more free wheeling and fun.

[Scott K]

I think just the few new additions in players will be adding some excitement to the team. Rubio/ Williams duo will bring fans to the seats for sure, and I agree Nelson would only add to Rubios, and Williams strengths, and have a lot a fast break action.

It would sure be nice if these 2 rookies could actually be training with the team, and learning our system, if we had a head coach, and a season for them to play. I dont have the feeling the NBA lock out will be over as quick as the NFL one. To much greed in the NBA, to many egos.

[Scott K]

Quote:

"Former Houston coach Rick Adelman discussed the Timberwolves coaching job with President of Basketball Operations David Kahn at some length by telephone last weekend but didn't visit Minnesota as scheduled, according to sources with knowledge of the team's search to replace the fired Kurt Rambis.

He is among a list of candidates that include Don Nelson, Bernie Bickerstaff, Mike Woodson and Terry Porter. All four interviewed in person with Kahn, owner Glen Taylor and in some cases the team's minority owners last week.

[EBass]

Quote:

didn't visit Minnesota as scheduled

That's not good - guess Porter will get a 2nd chance - D'oh!

[Scott K]

Quote:

Kevin Love told The Big Lead that David Kahn asked him what he thought about the coaching situation.

This should put the Love trade rumors to bed. It's clear that the young T-Wolves team intends to build around the highly talented power forward, and after Dwight Howard recently said he wished the Magic consulted him in some of their moves last season, this may be a trend that we see continuing as decision makers attempt to pacify their stars and keep them in the fold.

[Scott K]

Quote:

That's not good - guess Porter will get a 2nd chance - D'oh!

I wouldnt consider it a loss. If I were Adelman, I wouldnt want to travel all the way to MN to talk, when you can do that on the phone. I am sure both side got what they needed from the phone call. I am sure Adelman, just had a few question, as in, what power will I have, is glen going to open his check book and gets some veteran players if needed, what is the approximate offer I will get, etc... Then I am sure Adelman said, if you get done interviewing everyone else, and decide on me, I will travel to MN, and we will hash out details.

Kahn I am sure followed up with a few of his own questions, aka, what amount are you thinking, will you be able to handle teaching these youngsters, etc.. and everything was done. Then ended with we will finish up our interviews, and if we dicide to go with you, we will let you know.

I can honestly tell you I have been called, interviewed, and hired over the phone 2 times, and never filled out even as much as a job applications for my last 2 jobs, nor met the boss prior to the hirings.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Kevin Love spoke with Larry Brown Sports on Tuesday, and aside from announcing that he will be playing in the Manhattan Beach Open volleyball tournament next month, he said that Rick Adelman stands out to him in the Wolves' coaching search.

"I think a very intriguing prospect is (Adelman)," said Love, who spoke in specific praise about his offense. Love added, "Obviously there are other intriguing prospects out there and I’m hoping that management will make the right choice," which may or may not be veiled encouragement. While David Kahn has reached out to Love for some input, there's no guarantee he'll listen, as Love and the Wolves will likely keep tap dancing right until his contract expires.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Rick Adelman said at a charity golf event Monday that he's taking some time off, which likely indicates he won't become the next coach of the Timberwolves.

"Right now I don’t plan on doing anything, just taking some time off," Adelman said. He was thought to be a front-runner for the Wolves job, but that seems less likely after these comments.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Former Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell will get an interview with the Timberwolves for their coaching vacancy after all.

Larry Brown and Mitchell appear to be the last two finalists for a first-round interview, and Mitchell is a fan favorite in Minneapolis. The Wolves don't have to be in a hurry to get a deal done, as the lockout will almost certainly delay the start of the season. Terry Porter, Mike Woodson, Bernie Bickerstaff and Don Nelson have already interviewed, while Rick Adelman doesn't sound interested in the job.

[mrklean]

when do you think they will decide? Think they will wait until after the lockout

[Scott K]

Well, the Wolves have power here, the longer they wait, the cheaper and more everyone will sweat. I think the Wolves is the only team that has a head coach opening right now, so they have no competition. I personally hope they act soon, so the head coach can pick his assistants while there are still good options out there. The Wolves probably figure the later they wait, the better, because it is 1 less person on their payroll. I would guess they wont do anything until there is some positive talks between the players and owners, and things look like they will be settled. So my guess would be in September some time. Unless, the person they really want, gives them a bargain.

[Scott K]

Quote:

From his oceanfront home on Maui, Don Nelson acknowledges that his pursuit of the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching job might look odd.

He can explain.

"I love coaching, and I'm good at what I do," Nelson said this week. "It's kind of a gift that I have. I feel like I owe it to myself to do it as long as I can. I'm not ready to give it up."

But exchanging island breezes for upper-Midwest winters?

"I'm a lifer," he said, laughing.

Nelson, 71, the NBA leader in all-time coaching victories, recently interviewed for the Timberwolves job. That doesn't exactly put him in exclusive company.

"I think they've interviewed everybody who is out of work right now," Nelson said.

Since the dismissal of Kurt Rambis on July 12, the Minnesota job has been linked to Nelson, Larry Brown, Rick Adelman, Bernie Bickerstaff, Terry Porter and Mike Woodson.

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn is not discussing the interview process, a team spokesman said Wednesday. There's no reason for Minnesota to hurry, either, because the NBA lockout has shut down the league. The players union and owners remain far apart on how to divide an estimated $4 billion in annual league revenue.

Nelson was let go by the Warriors before last season; new ownership paid him $6 million not to coach. In April, Nelson told the San Francisco Chronicle that he wasn't planning to coach again, saying: "It's a perfect time to retire."

Clearly, there has

been a change of heart.

The Timberwolves are coming off a 15-67 season, preceded by a 17-65 season. But they have some fine young players, led by Kevin Love, the NBA's leading rebounder and Most Improved Player last season. Love will be joined next season by Derrick Williams, the No. 2 pick in the draft, and Ricky Rubio, who has finally decided to come over from Europe. Also, Kahn's stated preference is to play an up-tempo style -- the hallmark of Nellie Ball.

"My M.O. over the years has been taking bad teams and making them good," Nelson said. "I really like their young players and I'm good at teaching. They want to play fast, and that's what I like to do. It looks like a good fit to me."

There are even a couple of familiar faces in ex-Warriors Anthony Tolliver and Anthony Randolph. Nelson was a big supporter of Tolliver -- and bumped heads with the erratic Randolph, who had a strong finish in Minnesota last season after being traded by New York.

"They gave him an opportunity and he did pretty well, so maybe he's at a place where he's ready," Nelson said. "We always said when we drafted him that it would take him two or three years to become a player."

Nelson and wife Joy live in the small town of Paia. When he's not playing poker several nights a week, he's managing his "six or seven" properties on Maui. Each morning, he answers text messages and phone calls while sitting on the back porch, facing the water.

"It's really beautiful," he said.

But he's willing to give it up during basketball season for another coaching job.

"I'd love to come back in and coach against the Warriors," Nelson said. "That would be a lot of fun."

[Scott K]

Quote:

A local Minnesota TV sports director tweeted Monday that he thought the Wolves would make another run at Rick Adelman for their head coaching job.

Of course they will. Adelman would easily be the best coach that is available on the market, even if you factor in his age. The source added that there is a family issue keeping Adelman's interest at bay, but we'd be surprised if the dysfunctional history in Minnesota wasn't his biggest issue.

[mrklean]

just throw enough money at him then he will want to come here

[Scott K]

Quote:

According to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com, the Timberwolves are set to meet with Rick Adelman on Monday regarding their vacant head coaching position.

The original report had Adelman interviewing on Tuesday, but the head coaching candidate showed up early and will meet with team brass on Monday. Kahn has been known to have been targeting Adelman for quite some time, and it appears that the veteran coach is now willing to sit and down and listen to his pitch after previously declining an interview. Adelman is expected to be the final interview in the process of hiring a new head coach.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Rick Adelman met with the Wolves on Tuesday to discuss their open head coaching position, but when he left town an offer had yet to be made.

That doesn't mean that one won't be made, and the only way the Wolves won't make an offer is if Adelman has indicated to them that he definitely will not coach for them. Whether there is genuine interest on Adelman's side, or if he is simply trying to keep from insulting the Wolves' front office are both open-ended questions right now.

[mnviking28]

Not being from the Twin Cities, I don't watch a lot of the media down there. But, the other night I decided to watch channel 11 to catch up on the latest sports news. Are all of the sportscasters down there that unqualified? They were talking about Adelman's visit to the Wolves and the sports caster mis-pronounced his name more than once. Then, at the end of the segment, he corrected himself and said that he had "viewers correcting him after the 6:00 show". Yet he didn't even remember at 10:00? It was like he was truely clueless who he was. Was this guy doing the weather last week?

[Scott K]

Quote:

A local TV sports director tweeted Thursday that Rick Adelman is definitely interested in the Wolves coaching job, and is currently lining up assistants.

This could fall into a long line of statements made by local TV sports directors to curry favor with the teams that hand them access, as Adelman's interest will help raise the profile of a team whose GM has been an embarrassment. We're not ruling anything out, but we'll wait until the heavy hitters weigh in on the topic.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Minnesota Timberwolves beat writer Jerry Zgoda believes that the team and head coaching candidate Rick Adelman have already agreed to a pay range of $4-$6 million per season.

Zgoda notes that a salary agreement may have been a primary factor in Adelman's agreeing to come in for an interview. Although there has been no official made yet, it sounds as if negotiations are definitely heating up. Kevin Love has already endorsed Adelman, and we can be certain that his input will be valued by David Kahn considering that the power forward will become a restricted free agent in 2012.

[mrklean]

nice would be a good way to bring people in with his background, now we just need a season

[EBass]

I hope they sign him and workout the lockout deal. I want to see our #2 pick in action.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Rick Adelman will reportedly return to Minneapolis on Tuesday to meet with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor about the coaching job.

He was there last week, but apparently never met with Taylor. While a deal is not yet in place, Darren Wolfson said via Twitter that it's likely Adelman has already garnered interest from potential assistant coaching candidates, while it also appears he's talked money with David Kahn. Early indications are that Adelman is first in line to become the new coach of the Wolves, although Ric Bucher also reports that none of the other candidates, including Sam Mitchell, has been told he's out of the running.

[CJH]

Good to hear. I think most of us are pulling for Adelman.