FanHouse RandyPfund

Blazers "capologist" Tom Penn became the third top candidate to leave Minnesota at the altar today. According to Ric Bucher, Penn took a better title, a bigger paycheck and a hearty backslap from Paul Allen to stay in Home Sweet PDX. The Wolves' search continues anew. Mascot Crunch is currently testing Shelden Williams' spelling skills.

To be brutally honest, these last two snubs in Minneapolis have been downright insulting. Randy Pfund will end up as an assistant general manager, assistant coach or lead scout somewhere when he likely could have had Minnesota's top job. Penn is one of numerous cooks in Kevin Pritchard's kitchen -- and this is a young Kevin Pritchard, who isn't likely going anywhere any time soon. Penn would rather stay there than deal with Glen Taylor and (potentially) Kevin McHale. (Publicly, Penn cites the comfort level with the Blazers. I didn't hear anything about a comfort level until Portland put on a "full court press," though.)

News this week that Randy Pfund, the former Heat GM who publicly announced his interest in the Timberwolves job, had withdrawn his name from consideration drew raised eyebrows at the least. Pfund, after all, has few front office prospects -- the market is just dry for personnel bosses right now. And just weeks ago he really pushed for consideration in Minnesota. What gives?

Marc Stein of ESPN.com has a clue. And that clue's name is Kevin McHale.

The Wolves followed a popular formula to kick off their search for a general manager: they went after a Spur. Dennis Lindsay, a current San Antonio assistant GM who cut his teeth with Carroll Dawson in Houston, turned down the job, though.

The reasons why remain unknown, though there's simmering consternation that owner Glen Taylor is providing less than full rein for the prospective personnel boss. Taylor/Kevin McHale buddies/disciples Jim Stack and Fred Hoiberg remain in Timberwolf employ, and there's a rumor Taylor may be requesting the new boss to keep them on in meaningful front office roles.

But that issue is not giving pause to former Heat general manager Randy Pfund, who resigned last summer to make way for Pat Riley.

Over the weekend, the Boston Globe offered up a report suggesting the Clippers could be looking to replace Mike Dunleavy as general manager this summer. In 2006, Dunleavy, you may remember, signed a fat extension that pays him more than $5 million a year and runs through 2011. Either way, Clippers owner Donald Sterling is willing to take on the losses by either canning Dunleavy or forcing him to reliniguish his personnel duties and have him focus on coaching.

To that effect, KNBC in Los Angeles reports that the Clippers recently reached out to Lakers legend Jerry West regarding to GM position. Surprising no one, West apparently declined.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Dallas Morning News. Josh Howard loves this country. In case you thought otherwise.

2. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Pat Riley turns his evil sights on the Miami front office; Randy Pfund retires.

3. NBA.com. Gilbert Arenas may have gotten engaged, but he wasn't the one on his knee.

4. Bergen Record. Eddy Curry shows up to media day dressed like a pregnant woman, apparently not in good shape (even by Eddy Curry standards).

5. LA Times. Great read on the development of Andrew Bynum.

6. The Sporting Blog. The situation in Golden State is becoming unstable, as Chris Mullin looks to be on his way out.

NBA draft pundits/experts/whathaveyou's always have two schools of thought. One, who a team should take and two, who a team will take, given their draft position.

Joey Dorsey, on the other hand, doesn't mess around. He is just flat out letting everyone know what is going to happen. Because, apparently, he has some sort of inside source.

'Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago,' Dorsey said. 'But they're going to take Beasley. I've got the inside. They're going to get Beasley. ... I'm not telling you how I know. You'll see June 26. I can't say any more.'

Dorsey might be right, but neither the Bulls or the Heat are willing to say so.

'I'm not going to get into any details on that,' Heat general manager Randy Pfund said when asked how Miami's work leading into the draft, including the scheduling of workouts with potential lottery picks, is going.

Clearly, Pfund is just pflustered by Dorsey's call out of the Bulls in the top slot.

Now, the bonus to Dorsey's gamble here is that he has a 50/50 shot, since no one else even enters the conversation. Unless of course Paxson slipped up and already told Derrick Rose they are not taking him and Rose told Dorsey, which I suppose, is actually plausible if you've followed the Bulls recently.