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Kevin McHale's Got a Decision to Make

Posted: Apr 9th 2009 1:43PM by Matt Steinmetz (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, Interviews, NBA Press Box

Back in December, Kevin McHale had a decision made for him. Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor fired coach Randy Wittman, and told McHale to get down to the bench to guide the team he had assembled as vice president of basketball operations.

It was an unkind blow for McHale, who had been in on the franchise's highs and lows as the team's top decision-maker for the previous 13 seasons. At the time, most figured McHale would ride out the rest of 2008-09 season, then move on.

Now, McHale's got a decision to make.

Continue Reading Kevin McHale's Got a Decision to Make

Wittman's Gone, and Kevin McHale Might Join Him in a Few Months

Posted: Dec 8th 2008 1:21PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves

1 COMMENT

As rumored this morning, Minnesota put the axe to coach Randy Wittman after dude led his team to 4-15 start one year removed from a 22-60 record. The Wolves have lost 75 percent of their games under Wittman. Worse, Minnesota has looked like a group of sedated slugs on the court, lacking any sort of pride or hope in recent games.

But the more important news is that Kevin McHale will take over the team ... and step down from his front office duties. As I wrote this morning, it seems team owner Glen Taylor refuses to blame the personnel boss for the franchise's woes, instead canning coach after coach.

If becoming a coach is the only way McHale scrams out of Minneapolis, then it's what must be done. Really, this is a victory for Wolves fans who'd like to see McHale go. Unless you think the guy can whip these kids into shape and finish strong, McHale looks to be gone at season's end.

Here's Taylor's quote on McHale's charge:

"Kevin has assembled the players on this team, and believes in their talent and skill level," Taylor said. "It is my expectation that Kevin will be able to get the most out of our team and our players in his new role as head coach. He has been involved in the NBA game for almost 30 years, is a tremendous teacher and has a wealth of basketball knowledge. I am confident that our players will respond to the new voice and perspective that Kevin will provide."

How many wins does McHale need to win to keep his job? Fourteen in the remaining 63 games, which would beat Wittman's record this season? If McHale does well from the bench, will Taylor ask him to stay on the sideline and leave the front office work to GM Jim Stack and franchise golden boy Fred Hoiberg? Does McHale want to coach permanently? (I think we know the answer to that last one.)

Once Again, Wolves Owner Wants GM Kevin McHale to Take Over the Minnesota Mess

Posted: Dec 8th 2008 9:10AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, NBA Rumors

2 COMMENTS

It's a familiar story. Wolves owner Glen Taylor becomes disillusioned with his team's current coach, but understands fully the roster problems said coach has been forced to deal with. Taylor tells Kevin McHale, the team's long-tenured personnel honcho, to take over the coaching job with the philosophy of, "You helped make this mess, so clean it up."

In 2005, McHale took over for Flip Saunders and Minnesota missed the playoffs by one game. In 2007, McHale instead tapped recently added assistant (and former head coach) Randy Wittman, who took Dwane Casey's .500 team completely into the tank.

Now Wittman's on the firing line, and ESPN's Marc Stein reports Taylor is asking McHale to take over. Stein indicates that McHale might have another mark, though: team GM Jim Stack. Wolves fans can hardly be picky -- Wittman is completely lost out there, and has a truly atrocious record as coach. (For example, Wittman has 100 wins in 307 games as a head coach. Avery Johnson has coached 43 fewer games in his nascent career ... and has 94 more wins).

But most Wolves fans would agree, I think: getting rid of McHale is as important if not more important to the future health of the franchise as is losing Wittman. I mean, the draft, trade and free agency records speak for themselves. It appears Taylor only feels comfortable canning coaches, not execs. As such, the only way to lop off McHale's head (figuratively) is to get him on the sidelines. If McHale instead inserts another future fall guy, this 4-15 disaster may be for naught.

Neither Randy Wittman Nor Jesus Christ May Be Able to Successfully Coach the T'Wolves

Posted: Dec 7th 2008 4:05PM by Brett Pollakoff (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, NBA Gossip

4 COMMENTS

Randy Wittman may be hitching a ride out of Minnesota very soon.

A few weeks ago, Ziller brilliantly discussed the many ways in which Randy Wittman was failing in his attempt to coach the Timberwolves. And if you can believe it, things may have actually gotten worse for Wittman since then.

The ridiculous headline comes courtesy of Al Jefferson's post-game comments, following his team's thrashing at the hands of the (excited!) L.A. Clippers. The press was beginning to prod about whether or not Wittman should be allowed to stay around much longer, when Jefferson basically said that it didn't matter who was running the show if the players didn't fix things on their own.

"They could do whatever they wanted to do," Jefferson said of Wolves management. "But it starts right here in this locker room with us. Jesus Christ himself could come out here and coach us, but if we don't go out there and play hard and play together, it won't mean nothing."

Kevin McHale is not walking through that door! Jesus Christ is not walking through that door! Fantastic. Wittman himself sounded like he half expects to be fired anyday now, saying "when you get hired, you're bound to get fired." Really? I'm not positive, but I'm fairly certain that Phil Jackson has never made that statement.

NBA Coaching Guillotine: Randy Wittman

Posted: Nov 14th 2008 1:50PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves

0 COMMENTS

The NBA Coaching Guillotine considers which coaches have the potential to be executed (figuratively) and why.

Randy Wittman grabbed Minnesota's head coach job in auspicious circumstances in 2007. Dwane Casey, in his second season in charge of the Wolves, had taken the team to a 20-20 start with a top-10 defense despite utterly dismal projection for the squad. (Kevin Garnett was the only above-average player on the team. The other high-minutes player? Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.) At the time of the Casey firing, Kevin McHale said the coach had a playoff roster to work with and just wasn't getting enough out of them. It remains one of the most egregious cop-outs in modern NBA history (slightly edged by Minnesota owner Glen Taylor suggesting Garnett didn't want to win badly enough).

Wittman replaced Casey, and took a fringe postseason contender into the tank. The Wolves finished the season 12-30. The following season, once Garnett had been replaced with Al Jefferson, Wittman won 22 games. Clearly, the Wolves are rebuilding ... so does the record even matter? Remember Casey's raw deal when you read this McHale quote, captured by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Asked if he was satisfied with the team's coaching thus far, McHale said, "Yeah, well, right now we have to find a way to win basketball games. That's what this game is all about."

Encouraging! Of course, not a soul would cry foul should Wittman walk the gallows -- his rotation has been suspect, the team seems completely aimless most of the time. If there were an NBA yearbook, "Coach Most Likely to Look Completely Lost in Crunch Time" would be a unanimous Wittman victory. But still ... does McHale honestly think the Wolves should be 4-3 right now? Minnesota has some nice young pieces, but Red Auerbach couldn't have this bunch in the playoff hunt. Expecting as much from Wittman is akin to watching a bagel with the hope it'll spread cream cheese on itself.

Most Likely to Get Fired While Making Final Preparations For a Holiday: Mike Woodson

Posted: Oct 27th 2008 2:15PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Hawks, Timberwolves, Wizards

1 COMMENT

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

On Christmas Eve, Scott Skiles received the dreaded pink slip from the Bulls. Heartless? Perhaps. Unexpected? No fricking way. The NBA is a business, son, and business has to get handled ... even on a quasi-holiday. So who should fear the phone during Hanukkah, the 12 days of Christmas and New Year's Eve this year? We offer three candidates.

Continue Reading Most Likely to Get Fired While Making Final Preparations For a Holiday: Mike Woodson

Telfair Suspended Three Games

Posted: Oct 14th 2008 4:33AM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, Western, NBA Police Blotter

0 COMMENTS

Update: the league announced today that Bassy got three games.

Remember that one time when Sebastian Telfair ran afoul of the law? Wait, let me clarify. Remember the last time it happened? Well, as Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports, it's time to pay the piper:

Telfair was sentenced last month to three years' probation for misdemeanor possession of a loaded .45-caliber handgun, speeding and driving without a license in Westchester in April 2007. He was a member of the Celtics at the time of his arrest. Since his case has been resolved, his suspension by the NBA is automatic. The league needs only to determine how many games he'll serve, with sources indicating it will be for a minimum of two.

If this is true, no one's bothered to tell Randy Wittman or the Timberwolves. From Don Seeholzer of the Pioneer-Press:

"Nope. Haven't heard anything from the league or anything," Wittman said. "Sebastian hasn't heard anything. I would think, if that's the case, we would know. So I don't know. We'll see."

Here's a question for Wittman and Telfair: when's the last time a player has been convicted of possessing a loaded gun and not be suspended? Sure, it happened over a year and a half ago, but Telfair had to have seen this coming, especially since the sentencing was just last month. It's a little odd the NBA has been slow to pass the word along (maybe the guy in charge of relaying the news was busy updating his resume) but Wittman comes across as naive if he really thought the league would look the other way.

Your Cinderella Is Cornell!

Posted: Mar 8th 2008 7:06PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)

0 COMMENTS

Not many schools can say they are "smarter" than Stanford, but the Cornell Big Red probably can. Cornell is the first Ivy League school other than Penn or Princeton to make the NCAA tournament since 1988.

The Ivy League has won just two tournament games in 23 years. Still, the Big Red have been dominant ... going 21-5 and sweeping the conference slate. Their main man is Ryan Wittman ... son of Randy Wittman, the former Indiana Hoosier who is currently the head coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

For you zany people, you just like rooting for the Big Red. That's what is so cool about the Ivy League anyways: the Big Red, Dartmouth Big Green, Harvard Crimson and the Brown Bears. Colors everywhere!

Also, they are a smart bunch ... obviously ... and they are playing another smart bunch. But only the Big Red players can say they are Ivy Leaguers. So, turn in your sheet and tell 'em, "Go Big Red!"

You can learn more about the Big Red here in their FanHouse preview.
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Want to start over? Click here to Choose Your Own Cinderella again.

Gerald Green Takes His Cupcakes to Houston

Posted: Feb 21st 2008 3:15PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, Rockets, Houston, Minnesota

2 COMMENTS

The Philadelphia Inquirer's David Aldridge reports Minnesota has agreed to send Gerald Green to Houston for Kirk Snyder and a second round pick. Green was considered a major piece of the Kevin Garnett deal, but has not gotten many minutes under Randy Wittman.

Green's from Houston -- he has the entire city skyline tattooed on his arm. So, um, I imagine he's happy about the move. Snyder's contract is small and expires this summer, so (unless Minnesota could've actually gotten something for Green) neither team really loses anything. Potentially, Houston gains some scoring prowess off the bench (even though they have Luther Head and Steve Novak, neither of which gets too much run).

The world loses the fantastic comedic tandem of Gerald Green and Rashad McCants, though. R.I.P., indeed.

Antoine Walker Doesn't Understand

Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:58PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Timberwolves, Minnesota

2 COMMENTS

It's possible no one in the NBA misses Antoine Walker more than Antoine Walker. 'Toine invokes an Alzheimer's patient when talking to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Kent Youngblood about his role with the Timberwolves (via SLAM).

"I don't know what I'm doing, I have no idea what my role is," Walker said after Monday's practice. "I wish somebody would come tell me. It's kind of hard to put it into words. I don't know what I'm doing here."

He sounds more like a missing grandma sitting at a craps table in Reno at 3 a.m. than a veteran basketball player. The fluctuation of minutes is cause for confusion, certainly -- either Walker is a small part of this rebuilding year solely as a minutes-soaker, which serves to possibly keep Walker's plausible trade value somewhere in the region of zero instead of falling to, say, negative infinity, or he's the 13th man, called on only when the rest of the team simultaneously comes down with a highly contagious case of pinkeye which ripped through the practice facility 'Toine has stopped visiting. He shouldn't be some combination of both -- it doesn't serve the team or the player, really.

But how hard is it to ask what the fungus is going on? It amuses me all these 'role conundrums' have to be solved by way of beat writer. Dude, 'Toine -- ask Randy Wittman what's cracking! I know it looks like his head might explode any second (I've never seen an NBA coach with 20 or so games under his belt look so overwhelmed, and I've been through an Eric Musselman campaign) but I assure you the world will not cave in on itself if you express your concerns rationally to the coach.