Assistant Coaches

[Klomp]

* It sure looks like the Wolves are waiting for a labor agreement to approach before they hire Rick Adelman's staff, but...

Terry Porter -- who played for Adelman in Portland and was interviewed for the head coach job in July -- will be on board whenever that happens now that it seems certain the Suns won't let Elston Turner go.

Turner was Adelman's No. 1 assistant and defensive guru in Houston, but he accepted a job in Phoenix in June.

Not sure yet on what place in the pecking order or what role Porter will assume when a labor deal is reached and he's officially hired.

Two of Adelman's sons, R.J. and David, as well as former Portland assistant and former UNLV head coach Bill Bayno also will be hired.

You can expect Jack Sikma and/or T.R. Dunn from Adelman's Houston staff to join him in Minnesota as well.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/53702862.html

[Klomp]

@aldridge_12 Lamarcus Aldridge
How did we let Coach Bill Bayno leave the team?!

[Tha Juice]

Adelman's player personnel voice? His son R.J.
A little something while we wait today to see whether the owners and players really can finally pull off a new labor deal...

I'm hearing Adelman's 28-year-old son R.J. is not going to be an assistant coach, but rather a player personnel guy who will bring a lot of the same statistical analysis -- the same kind of stuff featured in the new film Moneyball (but without Brad Pitt) -- to the process that the Rockets use under their GM, Daryl Morey.

So rejoice, you basketball geeks who clamored for the Wolves to hire Rockets VP of basketball ops Sam Hinkie from Morey's staff instead of David Kahn two-plus years ago!

I was told yesterday that the Wolves might not hire anyone to replace departed Tony Ronzone.

I guess now that's because they've already in essence hired him, even though none of those assistant coach hires or RJ's hire will be announced and official until it's clear this lockout is ending.

The Rockets in recent years have been able to pluck Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry and Chase Budinger from the depths of the draft and trade for Luis Scola's rights.

They also, coincidentally, acquired the draft rights to European prospect Donatas Montiejunas from the Wolves with the 20th pick in last summer's draft.

That's when the Wolves started wheeling and dealing down with move after move to raise cash, at least $4 million -- funny the same amount they owed Kurt Rambis if they were going to fire him (which they did, of course) -- even if David Kahn swore it didn't have anything to do with the money. Rather, he said, it was because the talent-loaded Wolves didn't have room to add anymore young players to the roster.

If that was the case, then why not draft and keep Montiejunas and select European prospect Nikola Mirotic with the intent of keeping that player in Europe for a couple years and then have the option of signing him or trading him?

Anyway, for those of who were skeptical that Rick Adelman would ever take this job and wondered on the blog what role he'd have in player personnel decisions if he really did...well, here's your answer.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/53702862.html

[Klomp]

May not be the sexy hire, but I'm good with it.

[Saltine]

New Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman's son R.J. is expected to assume a front-office role in player personnel matters when the NBA lockout ends, league sources said Friday.

R.J. Adelman served as an assistant coach on his father's staff for four seasons in Houston but now is expected to bring with him some of the same scouting statistical analysis the Rockets have used under General Manager Daryl Morey.

The Rockets in recent years have plucked Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry and Chase Budinger from the depths of the draft and traded for Kevin Martin and Luis Scola using both traditional and analytical scouting.

R.J. likely will replace former assistant general manager Tony Ronzone, who left the team last summer.

His brother, Patrick, will be hired as an assistant on a coaching staff that's also expected to include former Milwaukee and Phoenix head coach Terry Porter, Jack Sikma and T.R. Dunn from Rick Adelman's Houston staff and former Portland assistant and UNLV head coach Bill Bayno.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/132834268.html

[Klomp]

I thought David was the son being hired...?

[john2jer]

I thought David was the son being hired...?

They hired both.

[Klomp]

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the completion of head coach Rick Adelman's coaching staff with the hiring of veteran NBA coaches Terry Porter, Jack Sikma, T.R. Dunn and Bill Bayno. Collectively, Adelman and his coaching staff bring more than 160 seasons of coaching (NBA, CBA, WNBA and college) and playing experience (NBA and college) to the Timberwolves bench. The team also announced that R.J. Adelman was named the team's director of player personnel/game preparation, Shawn Respert and David Adelman were hired as player development coaches, and Pat Zipfel will be the team's new advance scout.

"I'm excited to be able to add such a wealth of experience and talent to our coaching staff," said Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman. "I have worked with Terry and T.R. for many years, with Jack for the past four seasons, and have known Bill for many years. Each of them brings valuable coaching experience and a vast knowledge of the game to our staff."

"In addition to assembling a top-notch coaching staff, we are pleased to be adding R.J., Shawn, David and Pat to our basketball staff," said David Kahn, President of Basketball Operations. "They will provide invaluable direction and assistance to their respective areas."

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/ba ... 11207.html