Timberwolves Rumors: David Blatt a possibility?

The Timberwolves are currently operating under an interim head coach in Sam Mitchell, and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers have suddenly fired their coach, David Blatt.

Is there a potential match between the up-and-coming Wolves and a good coach needing a change of scenery? Some in the industry think it’s a real possibility.

David Pick is a respected basketball reporter who is very plugged in to the international hoops scene, so it would be irresponsible to ignore this report.

Of course, Blatt being hired four days before the 2014 NBA Draft and his Cavs selecting the consensus best prospect first-overall isn’t exactly a ‘connection’, so it would take some convincing to believe that the drafting of Andrew Wiggins is a reason for Blatt to come to Minneapolis.

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Additionally, “strong Euro core” isn’t really accurate. Ricky Rubio would be the only player that falls into that category, as Nemanja Bjelica only has two seasons on his contract after this one, and Nikola Pekovic is likely nothing more than a 20 minute per game player moving forward due to his chronic foot and ankle issues.

The top young players on the team, outside of Rubio, are North American-born in Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Zach LaVine. Of course, it’s still an attractive young core and Blatt apparently wants to stick in the NBA — presumably in a job with less immediate pressure.

Minnesota would seem to be a viable option, as Blatt is a good coach with a proven track record but is certainly still adjusting in some ways to the NBA game, and the Wolves are obviously a mix of young, up-and-coming players with a ton to learn. Not only that, the roster is at least a year, if not two away from making the playoffs.

The Timberwolves are in an odd spot, as we’ve previously discussed on Dunking With Wolves. Sam Mitchell was Flip Saunders’ top assistant and took control of the bench in tragic and sudden circumstances. Owner Glen Taylor will no doubt want to show some loyalty to his former player and current interim coach, but general manager Milt Newton may have no such loyalty.

Mitchell was Flip’s guy more than anything, so it’s tough to say what the front office and the players think about his presence beyond the current campaign.

And that leaves the door open for some kind of change; not now, necessarily, but potentially right after the regular season. If nothing else, it’s something to keep a close eye on.

There will surely be other organizations that express interest in Blatt, but this could be the rare point in time in which the Timberwolves’ coaching job is attractive to a variety of coaches.

Next: Timberwolves Mid-Season Awards

Of course, there isn’t officially a vacant position in Minnesota. In the event that there is, we’ll spend quite a bit more time breaking down and evaluating David Blatt’s coaching style.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend!