Are The T-Wolves Setting Rambis Up To Fail ?

[DEEP3CL]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4432367

OK the T-Wolves hire Kurt Rambis to be the head coach, because based on the prospects he was the best one with the most experience as an assistant. Usually head coaches hire their own staff of assistants but all of Kurt's hired help has been done by Dave Kahn.

To me it seems as if the T-Wolves have hired their next 3 coaches, bringing on Bill Laimbeer and Reggie Theus isn't a bad idea but this leaves Kurt watching over his shoulder, plus these guys want to be head coaches also.

We all know that assistants are buffers between the head coach and the players, when they get pissed with things they go running to the assistants. This is where the assistants massage the guys minds and tell them this "what I'd do if I were the head coach", Kurt is going to have to show all these guys from Day 1 he's the guy in charge.

The real battle to be is going to be between Kurt and Laimbeer, both have played for HOF coaches in Pat Riley and Chuck Daley. Theus played for Jerry Sloan in Chicago for a quick minute, and Sloan just got inducted into the HOF. Bottom line is these guys know ball inside out. Kurt has one extra advantage though.......he was an assistant for the greatest of them all in Phil Jackson.

Kurt must show that he's absorbed some of Phil's mental intellect for dealing with the players, this is where he'll keep Laimbeer and Theus at bay. My biggest gripe with Kurt was that he wasn't a players coach because of his people skills. But if he's learned from Phil he should be OK.

Bottom line it seems as though the T-Wolves aren't fully comfortable with Kurt or Kahn is filling his back pocket full of excuse cards should Kurt fail.

[CowsMoo]

I like your analysis. It's quite cynical but it can very much be true. =]

I hope Kurt gets the best out of it though.

[Tekkenlaw]

I think Rambis has a future there, he's who they wanted. The Wolves will be awful next year but they are ok with that. They have a nice core moving forward, I like Flynn and Love a lot, potentially great pick n' roll duo.

[DEEP3CL]

I like your analysis. It's quite cynical but it can very much be true. =]

I hope Kurt gets the best out of it though.

True but the writing is on the wall bro, no matter how they cut it.

[DubaLakers]

Yea, it's clear the Timberwolves are a lost franchise, only the players are keeping them legit. Kahn said on Dan Patrick that if he had to do it over again he would have selected Rubio, if he truly thinks that he's an idiot, i'm assuming he stood by his pick to protect himself. I didn't like their draft at all, and now they have this coaching carosel? Kurt should have taken the Sacto job, but I think he wanted more cash didn't he?

[Slava]

I'm not sure about this but isn't the head coach responsible for hiring his assistants? I read up on ESPN that Rambis hired Laimbeer and Theus himself and with Kahn firmly behind giving him time he's got very little job pressure at the moment.

Comes totally contrary to your opinion though.

[Dr Aki]

then whyd they give him a 4 yr contract?

if they set him up to fail, why did kahn leave himself open that way for when he has to compensate him if they fire him early?

rambis is there for 4 yrs because he needs 4 yrs to get the team to challenge, this was a pre-agreed timeframe between kahn and rambis

[monk302]

Laimbeer wil stab Rambis in the back first chance he smells.Have no idea why anyone would want him in their organization. As far as Reggie Theus goes all he wants to do is stand on the sidelines posing for a GQ photo shoot.

[dockingsched]

kurt got his 4 yr deal, so he should be good. its why he turned down the kings and their weak 3 yr offer. kurt knows years on contract = real power. the way minnesota is set up salary and talent wise, if they aren't clicking by year 4, then kurt probably doesn't deserve the job any longer.

[The Skyhook]

It would really suck to see the T'Wolves set Rambis up for failure. I want him to do well as a coach. The T'Wolves made it a little complicated from the start with the Rubio situation. Hopefully Rubio develops over seas and comes into the NBA as the real deal. Rubio has a lot of potential and if he can come back to the NBA in 3 years stronger and with a shot that would give Kurt a great player along with Johnny Flynn who I see doing well for the Wolves.

[LAKE_SHOW_GM]

Everyone knows a 4 year deal doesn't mean he'll be the coach all 4 seasons...Just means they are obligated to pay him for that time. If Kurt fails, and he will whether it's his fault or not the Wolves can't say they didn't give him the talent to make it work. They will have 3 lottery picks in the next 2 years (assuming Rubio ever plays in Minnesota)

[Tekkenlaw]

I think Kahn did a good job with the hand he was dealt. Rubio was considered the 2nd best prospect in the draft, you don't pass on him with the 5th and 6th pick, people would be calling for Kahn's head. If the Warriors didn't draft him the Knicks clearly would have. Whatever Rubio is traded for is going to be better than Foye and Miller. That's if they trade him, if Flynn doesn't pan out then they can bring Rubio over and have Flynn back him up, or possibly play them together if Rubio fills out and grows another inch or two and Flynn is a stud (I think Flynn will be better than Rubio personally).

[daddyfivestar]

If any of the SGs or SFs drafted behind Rubio bust out in the next two years, Kahn will be heading for the kitchen knives. His hope has to be that this becomes a bust filled draft and Rubio studs out while maturing then becomes the face of Minny. This will be his story, sticking to it, for the next few years.

[LA Warrior]

By not trading for Luke i believe they are destined to fail.

[Gus McCrae]

I don't expect Laimbeer to be the headcoach of the T-Wolves, he knows he's got coaching experience but needs at least six months or a year in the NBA before anyone will consider him for a headcoach job. That's why he's working as an assistant. Rambis is there for 4 years, so he's not in danger.

As for Theus, I think he just wants work and is absolutely not a threat to Rambis.

Rambis has the experience and the job. He has better people skills than Laimbeer and more heart than Reggie Theus. I think he's fine.

[Danny Darko]

I don't expect Laimbeer to be the headcoach of the T-Wolves, he knows he's got coaching experience but needs at least six months or a year in the NBA before anyone will consider him for a headcoach job. That's why he's working as an assistant. Rambis is there for 4 years, so he's not in danger.

As for Theus, I think he just wants work and is absolutely not a threat to Rambis.

Rambis has the experience and the job. He has better people skills than Laimbeer and more heart than Reggie Theus. I think he's fine.

First off, I think Deep is totally correct that the wolves brass look shady in this. It doesn't seem like two guys that Kurt went out and chose to me.

From what I hear Kurt is really hard on players, and sometimes too aggressively. In this regard I could see Theus either being a huge asset to Kurt as a Shaw type of guy, or he could be a vulture waiting for pickings at the job later.

But mostly- YOU KNOW that Bill is not thinking assistant. While his style would probably enforce Kurts own demanding coaching philosophy, he' was and always will be a cheapshot artist.

[Devilzsidewalk]

don't you think all assistants want to look their best for a potential future head coaching gig? I don't see much difference between Theus/Laimbeer and 100 other assistants in the NBA, they all want to be a head coach. And if you want to be a head coach, then you show your chops by showing up your boss? This is breaking news, I'm gonna run over to my boss' desk right now and announce "step aside, I'm handling things from here on out" then wait for my promotion

[Magicontinues]

Rambis is not a proven coach, It's a ridiculous and paranoid notion that they are setting him up to fail. Watching to many movies that are conspiracy based.

Rambis if he get's along with players, or at least has their respect and does a good job coaching the young guys is what will determine his success or failure.

One could argue however that coaching a small market team or a franchise with a piss poor owner Llike the clippers and Wolves is setting a coach up to fail by taking the job.

[Dexmor]

No they are not because they just got Ramon Sessions. He is gonna break out into a star and that gives them a nice core of AL-Love-Sessions. There not making the playoffs but an improvement is gonna happen. Good for Rambis.

[Gus McCrae]

I may not have full clarity on this, if Rambis has a 4 year contract...isn't he signed for 4 years? I may have misinterpreted the situation. Can someone please clarify for me.

EDIT: I'm not trying to be sarcastic, it's a serious question