Dysfunctional.
If I had to choose one word to describe the Minnesota Timberwolves under owner Glen Taylor, that would be it. Taylor has made a combination of baffling decisions, reckless, impulsive hires, and corruption that would be enough to make Jimmy Haslam jealous.
Last month, ESPN.com ranked every owner in the NBA. Where did Glen Taylor land? The author(s) ranked him 27th. He beat out only Vivek Ranadive (Kings), Mikhael Prokhorov (Nets), and James Dolan (Knicks).
From the illegal under-the-table agreement with Joe Smith in 1998, to the hiring of the most unqualified General Manager in the history of sports in David Kahn and countless terrible coaches, Taylor has created a toxic culture for the Timberwolves, and he needs to go.
Where is the dysfunction now, you ask? Taylor’s relationship with President of Basketball Operations/head coach/part owner Flip Saunders.
Taylor and Saunders are all buddy-buddy. They go way back to at least the early 1990s, and it is apparent that their friendship is hampering their business relationship.
Glen Taylor is the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. As in, it should be his way or the highway. Remember that as you take in the following quote from Saunders’ end-of-season media availability last week:
"“I’ll coach until I feel we need to move in a different direction.” — Flip Saunders"
Oh. OK. So what you’re saying, Flip, is that your boss, who said he preferred you not to serve as both head coach and POBO, doesn’t have enough influence to remove you from that role? Good to know.
And what you’re saying, Flip, is that a team that won 16 games doesn’t need to move in a different direction? Good to know.
And what you’re saying, Flip, is that a team that finished last in three-pointers attempted doesn’t need to move in a different direction? You do know there is a three-point line these days, right?
And finally what you’re saying, Flip, is that a team that finished 26th in offensive efficiency and last in defensive efficiency doesn’t need to move in a different direction? Good to know.
You can say what you want about injuries, but the team should not have been as bad as it was.
I think it might actually sound better if Flip said “I’m the coach until *Glen* tells you I’m not the coach.”
— Punch-Drunk Wolves (@PDWolves) April 20, 2015
Look, I don’t think many people actually believe Flip Saunders is still a competent basketball coach, but he’s proven he can be a pretty darn good POBO. If you want to argue with me on that, then I’d like to direct your attention to a player named Andrew Wiggins. However, Saunders has also proven that doing both at the same time isn’t going to work — he was a terrible coach this year, and he made some horrible roster decisions on the way. I’m looking at you, Adreian Payne.
But this post isn’t about Flip Saunders. It’s about Glen Taylor. Either Taylor is too oblivious to see just how bad of a coach Saunders was, or he is too close to him to pressure him to revert back to his role, and once again just be the POBO. Either way, the Timberwolves have a serious mess on their hands.
Taylor explored selling the team a few years back, but ultimately decided not to for two reasons, according to the Pioneer Press: he couldn’t find a buyer that’d keep the team in Minnesota (so he’s done one thing right, I guess) and he foresaw a bright future for the team. Well, that was in 2013, and now Kevin Love is gone. Unfortunately, it looks like the Wolves are stuck with Taylor for now.
Taylor needs to get his act together as an owner, and assert himself as the boss if he truly thinks Flip shouldn’t be coaching. If not, it might not matter how much talent Saunders puts around Andrew Wiggins.