Nov 2, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves director of basketball operations David Kahn against the Sacramento Kings at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Kings 92-80. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

In regarding David Kahn’s reign you need to consider the beginning and the mess the Wolves had before he even arrived and did his Flynn number on the ’09 draft.

It’s hard to think back to the final days of Kevin McHale’s run with the Wolves. Towards the end of the Kevin Garnett era, the mediocre corner the Wolves had painted themselves into was so painfully drawn out that by the time KG had been moved, it wasn’t so much about the haul the Wolves thought they had received in the trade, but the new direction it would point them in.

Al Jefferson’s Timberwolves were intriguing because McHale was excited about a real throwback, back to the basket big man like the one he couldn’t turn KG into.

Soon it was obvious to McHale’s followers. No more would they have a defensive smart bomb tattooed in their starting lineup at power forward. The unselfish passing out of the post would no longer exist at Target Center. Kevin Love was still a puppy who wanted to play. Glen Taylor could even read the writing on the wall and the David Kahn era was officially on its tragicomic way.

Henry Abbott over at True Hoop wrote some words about Kahn’s exit. The intro painted a sunny picture I would like to bask in on this Mother’s Day.

David Kahn’s contract has not been renewed.

The most common reaction is, what took owner Glen Taylor so long? (Be warned: that link’s to Twitter, and this is Kahn. The language can get salty.) There’s nothing everyone in the NBA agrees on, except perhaps that David Kahn was horrible at his job.

His mistakes were many and public. Jonny Flynn — last seen playing out his prime basketball years in Australia — ought not to have been a lottery pick. Ditto Wesley Johnson. It’s awesome to have a player like Kevin Love and unforgivable to have jerked him around when it was time for a contract. These mistakes and others are all real.

But ask yourself this, or other GMs who love to feed the fires of Kahn mock: If Kahn’s such an idiot, how come the Timberwolves roster is in better shape than your team, with affordable young talent, payroll flexibility and real upside?

Nikola Pekovic is among the NBA’s most effective centers, and while he was drafted by Kahn’s predecessor, Kahn got him to come to the U.S. and play for the bargain price of $4.8 million. Everyone mocked Kahn for committing close to $20 million over two years to Andrei Kirilenko, who had been out of the league, but how many playoff teams would kill for an elite defender and long, efficient offensive player at that price right now? (My guess: All of them.) Dante Cunningham is making $2 million and is no stiff. Ricky Rubio at $3.7 million and Alexey Shved at $2.9 million are problems every owner would like to have.

The Timberwolves have middling salaries now, and among the league’s lowest payroll moving forward. They were 12-9 to start this season without the injured Love, and a happy story, before injuries savaged the Twin Cities, claiming Love (again), Brandon Roy and almost every other key player for long stretches.

No, the roster’s not dreamy. But with a decently healthy season, they’d be telling a whole ‘nother story about this team.

There are far worse-off teams than the Timberwolves, and by extension, far better candidates for “worst GM in the NBA” than Kahn.

Apr 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) dribbles and Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrei Kirilenko (47) defends in the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Jazz needed this game, and the Wolves…didn’t. It was a fairly clean game, with only 22 combined turnovers. Well, clean if you avoid looking at the unsightly shooting numbers from the home squad. All things considered, the majority of the tilt was pretty well-played, and was very competitive until a late collapse by the Wolves.

The opening minutes were ugly for the Wolves, as the Jazz easily jumped out to a 16-2 lead due to horrible shooting and a lack of rebounding from Minnesota. In fact, the first Wolves’ first basket from the field came more than five minutes into the game on a layup from Derrick Williams. Some solid defense and fast-break execution got the Wolves back into the game rather quickly, and the Wolves pulled within 24-16 by the end of the first quarter.

The Wolves’ bench played very well in the second period, bringing the Wolves all the way back to a 36-34 deficit, courtesy of a 10-4 run led by J.J. Barea. Ricky Rubio did not log any second quarter minutes, and the backcourt of Barea and Alexey Shved kept the Wolves close until a 9-0 Jazz run over the final three minutes propelled the Jazz to a 52-41 halftime advantage.

The third quarter began with some very spotty shooting from the Wolves, as the Jazz slowly extended their lead. About midway through the frame, however, the Wolves were ignited by some very good defensive pressure and well-executed double-teams on Al Jefferson, and with an incredible Derrick Williams alley-oop dunk from Ridnour mixed in the middle, the Wolves went on runs of 9-0 and 15-4, eventually pulling to within a 61-58 score.

Utah went on a short burst fueled by a number of borderline foul calls by the officials and a flurry of free throw conversions, going on a 10-2 run over the final two minutes of the quarter and carrying a 71-60 lead into the fourth quarter. The Jazz’ lead only grew from there, as Rubio left the game midway through the final frame with the deficit holding in double-digits. Garbage time leaned the Jazz’ way with Utah pulling ahead by 20 points more than once, with the final tally eventually reached 96-80.

Some quick thoughts….

- Rubio did not play well, finishing with just 6 points on 2 of 9 shooting with 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover in 29 minutes of play. His shot looked extremely flat, and he simply could not draw any foul calls in the lane.

- Al Jefferson is very, very good, and just in case there was any doubt, Greg Stiemsma is simply incapable of guarding him. Big Al dropped a leisurely 22 points on the Wolves’ defense, and neither Steamer nor Dante Cunningham stood much of a chance. The Jazz didn’t shoot particularly well from the perimeter, which in part allowed the Wolves to stay close for much of the game.

- The Wolves had another horrific night from long-range, shooting 2 for 17 (11.8%) from three-point land. The only makes were two wide-open shots by Barea in the second quarter. The fact that I can remember that easily off the top of my head means that the Wolves were really, really bad from deep.

- The Wolves will be in San Antonio to face the Spurs for the season finale on Wednesday night at 7:00 CST.