Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson looks on as the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O

Phil Jackson is on a book tour. Perhaps you heard his comparison of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in which North Dakota’s favorite son embraces his midwestern roots and passive-aggressively rips Bryant for, among other things, being Kobe Bryant.

Anyway, there were some interesting subjects touched upon during his recent Chicago stop of the tour. Former Wolves beat writer Steve Aschburner was there and among his observations about the break-up of the Bulls before the lockout 1999 season he mentioned an offense that has been run down a bit the past few years, and for good reason by Wolves fans, in particular.

Still, the idea of a basketball operations gig in Seattle – said to be Jackson’s for the taking, had entrepreneur Chris Hansen wrested the Kings out of Sacramento – holds great appeal. And for a very personal reason: “The sideline triangle offense that we promoted all those years and thought was such a fine system has really been denigrated over the last three or four seasons,” he said.

Never mind Kurt Rambis‘ failure in Minnesota or the half-baked versions tried briefly elsewhere, Jackson said. “A lot of people point to all those situations and the triangle as too difficult to run and too difficult an offense for present-day NBA basketball. And I don’t think it’s true,” he said. “Basketball is still basketball. The princples of offense are still the same. And there’s a group of people who would be willing to listen to that.”

Something Jackson loved about that offense – or maybe just his special place in the game, after tutelage from assistant coach Tex Winter, as its biggest proponent – was the buy-in it required from all involved. “One bonus about triangle offense,” he said, “it wasn’t a coach telling player what to do. It was about system, a standard to live up to.”

March 16, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) shoots against Oregon Ducks guard Johnathan Loyd (10) during the second half of the championship game of the Pac 12 tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Oregon defeated UCLA 78-69. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Smokescreens and intrigue, the buildup to the NBA Draft is upon us. The Wolves have some buzz around the league as movers and shakers lying in wait for Charlotte’s number four pick. What it would take to move up from number nine is unclear, but not so unclear as how the existence of the rumor the Wolves would be interested in UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad if they stick with their number nine pick is possible.

Is Flip Saunders creating the possibility to draw attention from his actual target? Is there real interest in Muhammad?

In the wake of his hire, Flip gave a lot of lip service to fit and character with regard to Rick Adelman’s system and the overall culture. (Could have used a Flip-ism like: insofar as, right there, and chose not to.)

From Doogie Scoops:

Look for new Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders to engage Charlotte, holders of the No. 4 pick in next month’s draft, in trade talks.

According to league sources, Saunders is a big fan of Indiana guard Victor Oladipo, and the only way to get him is to move up from the ninth-spot.

If the Wolves stay at No. 9, one league source predicts Saunders will take UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad. Word has it that the Wolves like him. But so does Detroit, and they pick one spot ahead of the Wolves.