Minnesota Timberwolves part ways with team president Gersson Rosas

The Minnesota Timberwolves are parting ways with President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas after just over two years.

This was reported first by multiple members of the media before it was confirmed by the team in a statement shortly thereafter.

Minnesota Timberwolves part ways with team president Gersson Rosas

Rosas was hired by the Timberwolves in May 2019 and the team went just 42-96 in his tenure. The basketball operations department will be run by Sachin Gupta while ownership conducts a search for a new leader. Presumably, Gupta himself will be a leading candidate.

Minnesota’s front office plans to conduct a search for a permanent president of basketball operations but Gupta has been named the interim for the time being. With the promotion, Gupta becomes the first person of Indian-origin to run a NBA franchise. He has previous front office experience with the Rockets, Pistons, and 76ers.

Even though longtime owner Glen Taylor is in the midst of selling the team, he apparently felt a sudden change was needed.

Taylor released a statement on Wednesday afternoon that read, in part, “As an organization, we remain committed to building a winning team that our fans and city can be proud of.”

It’s certainly a strange time to make such a drastic move in the front office with training camp less than one week away but Taylor has made perplexing decisions before. Additionally, it doesn’t seem like the players had any idea this news was coming as superstar Karl-Anthony Towns tweeted “wtf…” following the announcement.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Rosas was still holding meetings and in the gym this morning.

It’s not completely clear why he was let go, especially just days before training camp, but there was reportedly tension within the front office, per several local reporters.

In terms of Rosas’ track record, he was responsible for drafting Anthony Edwards and trading for D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, as well as the haul acquired in the Robert Covington trade. All of those transactions took place in the calendar year of 2020.

Gupta will look to build on those additions during the upcoming season. He was originally hired by Houston in 2006, working as a special advisor to Daryl Morey.

Gupta will likely be in the mix to be hired permanently but according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, 76ers general manager Elton Brand is also a name to keep an eye on.