Dunking with Wolves » Rick Adelman http://dunkingwithwolves.com A Minnesota Timberwolves Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Sat, 18 May 2013 20:51:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Flipping Kahn for Saunders: Dunking With Wolves Reaction #2 http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2013/05/07/flipping-kahn-for-saunders-dunking-with-wolves-reaction-2/ http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2013/05/07/flipping-kahn-for-saunders-dunking-with-wolves-reaction-2/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 15:58:49 +0000 Mike McDonald http://dunkingwithwolves.com/?p=4886 There are changes coming to the Timberwolves player-personnel and they have the potential to be big. Nikola Pekovic, big. Others could be of the Mickael Gelabale-variety. The biggest news thus far is the guy who will be taking orders from working with  Team Adelman is an old hand. Without further delay: Part Two of our Staff [...]

Flipping Kahn for Saunders: Dunking With Wolves Reaction #2 - Dunking with Wolves - Dunking with Wolves - A Minnesota Timberwolves Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Jun 21, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn answers a question during a press conference at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There are changes coming to the Timberwolves player-personnel and they have the potential to be big. Nikola Pekovic, big. Others could be of the Mickael Gelabale-variety. The biggest news thus far is the guy who will be taking orders from working with  Team Adelman is an old hand.

Without further delay: Part Two of our Staff Reactions series, featured staff writer James Glenn …

1.) What is your reaction to the decision by Glen to decline Kahn’s option?James Glenn: Relief! This experiment had gone on long enough. Granted injuries never allowed this years team to show it’s full potential, but, if Kahn had done his job better it wouldn’t of come down to this years team needing to win in order for him to keep his job.

2.) What is your reaction to the decision by Glen to hire Flip as his replacement?

James Glenn: Cautiously optimistic. Flip has proven to be the most successful GM in Timberwolves history. He cheated to accomplish it, but he won non the less. I’m slightly let down (my own doing), because of wanting the next big guy. The world is ever evolving in sports, business and the approach to getting the job done. I wanted my team to go get the next “IT” guy, not the guy who once upon a time did it. I know Flip was able to once, I only hope it can be done again.

 

3.) What is your biggest hope or concern following these two moves and (optional follow-up) what can be done to address it?

James Glenn: I am still concerned about the organizational structure of every department under Flip. How solid is the franchises infrastructure after Kahn who openly admitted some flaws in interviews since being let go? I am optimistic because Flip has proven to understand the league and has had a glimpse inside of some great franchises as a consultant. I hope he will be able to get everything in place prior to the draft so another year will not be wasted. Flip has been given a pretty solid roster (2 franchise type players), some financial flexibility and a Hall of Fame Head Coach. Flip should be able to address the wing this off-season through the draft and/or free agency, unload some of the bad contracts (Roy, Berea and Ridnour = 14.2 million) and retain both Pek and Chase while easily keeping the payroll in line for the future. 
]]> http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2013/05/07/flipping-kahn-for-saunders-dunking-with-wolves-reaction-2/feed/ 0 Retaining Rick Adelman: Wolves Priority #1 http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2013/05/06/retaining-rick-adelman-wolves-priority-1/ http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2013/05/06/retaining-rick-adelman-wolves-priority-1/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 16:19:06 +0000 Mike McDonald http://dunkingwithwolves.com/?p=4876 The apprehension surrounding Glen Taylor’s homer hire of Flip Saunders was on full display with Reuters and Yahoo! Sports getting ahead of themselves and running straight into the teeth of it — what is going to happen to Rick Adelman? Can Saunders and Adelman coexist? Is Flip going to be looking over Rick’s shoulder, waiting for [...]

Retaining Rick Adelman: Wolves Priority #1 - Dunking with Wolves - Dunking with Wolves - A Minnesota Timberwolves Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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April 09, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman looks to the court against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The apprehension surrounding Glen Taylor’s homer hire of Flip Saunders was on full display with Reuters and Yahoo! Sports getting ahead of themselves and running straight into the teeth of it — what is going to happen to Rick Adelman?

Can Saunders and Adelman coexist? Is Flip going to be looking over Rick’s shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to undermine him in order to make his way back on to the Wolves bench? Is this unfounded paranoia a product of David Kahn’s personality wreaking havoc on the Wolves Front Office’s perception — or is it really unfounded at all?

The number one priority for the Wolves this offseason — before securing Nikola Pekovic at a reasonable price, before ironing out a medium-sized, long-ish term contract with Andrei Kirilenko, before keeping Chase Budinger in the fold, before draft research and the draft lottery and exploring trading up or out or buying picks, before finding a better-fitting defensive big and a slew of shooters who can defend and/or handle the ball, and before deciding the fate of Derrick Williams, Jose Juan Barea, Luke Ridnour and Greg Stiemsma — the Wolves needed to secure the Hall of Famer coaching this team.

So what is the first of many softball questions put to Taylor and Saunders at their presser last week:

On the status of Rick Adelman… 
Taylor: “Yes, I’ve talked to Rick Adelman, he is our coach. I do expect him to be back.”

What up, Reuters? Where’s the accountability, Yahoo!?

 

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