Ryan Saunders Has Been Fired - Chris Finch Hired!!!

[Nick K]

I feel like the power that be strongly wanted Ryan to get the job and Rosas' hands were tied. He probably wants his own coach appointed but didn't want to ruffle feathers right away.

I am sure that was one factor, but I see too other reasons Rosas would pick Saunders.

1. Ingratiate yourself with Glen

2. Rosas could tell Saunders to run his scheme, and Ryan wouldn’t fight him like a vet coach. He was loyal.

3. Ryan’s personal relationship with the players. We were coming off of Thibs and his backing of the Jimmy Butler incident. He was a taskmaster, and many players, young and vets, said the working environment under Ryan was much better. Ryan had those relationships. I can’t remember if I posted this here:

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Great post. Plus, Rosas had no idea of what he had or was going to have, so you might as well have a compliant team playing HC to carry you until you have a solid roster. Then you can settle on your final HC.

As far as Vanterpool goes, I'm not impressed in the least with him as our HC of defense. Rosas had the chance to watch him and apparently wasn't impressed enough either. So now we have Finch. It all makes perfect sense.

BTW, Finch is not only close to Rosas but he's close with Wolves asst Bryan Gates. Gates and Nurse have been best friends for 20 years. Finch is right in there. Finch knows Prigioni from the Houston days.

Now it even makes more sense.

[Jedzz]

If you guys didn't wanted to get rid of Ryan this bad and blame him for everything that's going on in this dumpfire you would notice pretty easily that the way the Wolves handle this situation was just wrong on so many levels.

I tottaly get Doogie on this.

...I get that you like the guy, but he deserves nothing but the worst possible outcomes moving forward.

What?

[winforlose]

If you guys didn't wanted to get rid of Ryan this bad and blame him for everything that's going on in this dumpfire you would notice pretty easily that the way the Wolves handle this situation was just wrong on so many levels.

I tottaly get Doogie on this.

...I get that you like the guy, but he deserves nothing but the worst possible outcomes moving forward.

What?

It honestly doesn’t bother you when rich privileged kids get every possible advantage over everyone else. Put aside the fact that he is white (because honestly it has nothing to do with this,) Ryan never gets any job at the NBA level without his daddy hiring him. He never gets promoted to interim HC over much more qualified people without his daddy’s connections. He then takes the permanent job over much more qualified candidates despite not being able to perform it. Then drives the franchise into the ground. He never earned a damn thing and took an opportunity away from people who did. His career deserves to go down in flames.

[Krapinsky]

I hope Finch benches D'Lo's ass if he starts playing selfishly again. Then Rosas will have to decide between his prized player (who just plainly sucks) or his coach on who to get rid off.

Finch might be great for D-Lo. He was able to help Jrue Holiday take his game to the next level, so here's hoping he can work the same magic with D-Lo.

[Jedzz]

...I get that you like the guy, but he deserves nothing but the worst possible outcomes moving forward.

What?

It honestly doesn’t bother you when rich privileged kids get every possible advantage over everyone else. Put aside the fact that he is white (because honestly it has nothing to do with this,)

Wait, you just brought his race into this? You did.

Yes, he's a priviledged rich kid who had an NBA role spoon fed to him for years because of his dad. Then a HC job because of the situation and his relation. Yes, all of that. I understand your angst about that. I never approved either if I'm being honest. But you are really wishing the worst possible outcomes moving forward for him now? Really?

Btw, Dad's across the world try to help their kids with the connections they have. Mine helped me into a rough, dirty, dangerous summer job once. I took the help. Maybe some Dad's don't do that for their kids or can't. But many do. Yes tho, I think it should be different in a profesional sports league when there is only 30 teams of the league. But those were his connections and his father having a share in the team ownership, and dieing while he was working with him, these are unique circumstances.

This is sort of more like a son going to work at Dad's own business. Which all across the business world everywhere sees children of owners taking the helms at some point. That's life man. Maybe that's why so many wanted to see him carry on his Dad's vision, idk. So you hate Ryan out of jealously enough to wish "worst possible outcomes" from now on? You've gone way to far here.

Ryan never gets any job at the NBA level without his daddy hiring him. He never gets promoted to interim HC over much more qualified people without his daddy’s connections. He then takes the permanent job over much more qualified candidates despite not being able to perform it. Then drives the franchise into the ground. He never earned a damn thing and took an opportunity away from people who did. His career deserves to go down in flames.

No NBA job without Daddy? Probably. Tho this isn't something you can own the truth of.

Drives the franchise into the ground? Really? If that's even possible with this franchise which is almost always underwater, it's ROSAS who did the driving. It's Rosas who flipped the roster twice already in two seasons and then totally logjammed it a month before the season starts. This is all every bit on him as much as Saunders poor in game management most of us agree on. Yes, go ahead and fire Saunders for being a weak in game head coach. The rest tho is Rosas and his hand picked crew of brainchilds and assistants. Is it not enough that Saunders got fired for you? You want his life and career in flames now? Too far man, go no further.

[karch34]

...I get that you like the guy, but he deserves nothing but the worst possible outcomes moving forward.

What?

It honestly doesn’t bother you when rich privileged kids get every possible advantage over everyone else. Put aside the fact that he is white (because honestly it has nothing to do with this,) Ryan never gets any job at the NBA level without his daddy hiring him. He never gets promoted to interim HC over much more qualified people without his daddy’s connections. He then takes the permanent job over much more qualified candidates despite not being able to perform it. Then drives the franchise into the ground. He never earned a damn thing and took an opportunity away from people who did. His career deserves to go down in flames.

There's an argument to be made in a lot of sports (and other areas) in regards to race and hiring. I don't think Sanders is necessarily the argument for it when looking at nepotism and connections. He was an assistant due to his connections (not different from others) for 10 years. Was his hiring as assistant in early 20s connections and nepotism? No doubt. Was he unqualified? There was talk that he helped Bradley Beal develop and was offered job as assistant by Fizzdale (no connections) when he was with the Knicks, so hard for me to say he hadn't earned anything. Appears he had some positives and was well regarded. Did he get a break/head start that others don't get due to his dad? Yes, so did Bickerstaff, Adelman, and others. It's a small group. Flip likely doesn't get in if he doesn't have a relationship with McHale. Connections and relationships is a factor..

He did take over a team that had gone a huge soap opera with Butler and Thibs and went 17-25. Not great but at his age and taking over what he did and the results there was at least an argument that he should get a shot. The issue to me was do you bring in a new GM/POBO to take over but say (implicitly or implied) you can't totally remake the team per your vision because we have a HC you have to keep? I'd say no. Now do we know if that was or wasn't a condition for Rosas? I don't think we know. However, I think you look at organizations in any sport that make a major change at the top but keep a piece for sentimental or financial reasons it hamstrings the new regime.

[Jedzz]

I hope Finch benches D'Lo's ass if he starts playing selfishly again. Then Rosas will have to decide between his prized player (who just plainly sucks) or his coach on who to get rid off.

Finch might be great for D-Lo. He was able to help Jrue Holiday take his game to the next level, so here's hoping he can work the same magic with D-Lo.

What was that New Orleans record while there I wonder? Every new coach hire here comes with some story about how they single handedly were the one responsible for some individual player having a good year or two. I'll wait to see the change/improvement in this team of players before i...

Remembering, wasn't the story Ryan Saunders was responsible for developing Bradley Beal into who he was?

[Calinks]

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Ruthless clearly has a different meaning to Doogie than it does to me. Are Taylor and Rosas supposed to fly him back with the team, have a party, share some memories and cake?

Pretty telling when Doogie says, "Sam Mitchell, one of my guys."

I have heard outside of basketball, Glen can be a viscous douche in the business world. Super impatient and firing people really fast, etc. I think he's kind of similar in the douche area with the wolves. He has some really bad ways of letting people go. There is for a sure a track record of crappy firings. He doesn't have a lot of tact there or doesn't care to show it. Like "You a bum, you will no longer steal my money, be gone."

[Jedzz]

Doogie sounded too butthurt during the presser

He definitely can get emotional at times. Maybe it's just a TV thing versus print, but it's becoming more obvious for him.

He had a meltdown earlier today on twitter too

We just had Trump on twitter for four years. Nothing is a big deal, off rails,or "a meltdown" in comparison on twitter anymore.

[karch34]

I have heard outside of basketball, Glen can be a viscous douche in the business world. Super impatient and firing people really fast, etc. I think he's kind of similar in the douche area with the wolves. He has some really bad ways of letting people go. There is for a sure a track record of crappy firings. He doesn't have a lot of tact there or doesn't care to show it. Like "You a bum, you will no longer steal my money, be gone."

I think that's probably more likely than not for most owners since they came up through the business world. At a very basic level I don't think Glen understands the sports business is a different animal. Keeps McHale too long and craps on KG when he leaves two biggest things that stick out. Asks Stern who gave him the harshest penalty for tampering/impropriety by taking a way 5 straight firsts (Lakers would've lost two 2nd rounders and get a $500k fine for Joe Smith fiasco, IMO) who he should hire as a GM and Stern suggests David Kahn and Taylor says "OK". Lots of other things that I think everyone could go on and on about but from a balance sheet a sports team will almost always appreciate regardless of how run; wins and losses along with everything else that goes into success that's not on a ledger is a harder thing.

[winforlose]

What?

It honestly doesn’t bother you when rich privileged kids get every possible advantage over everyone else. Put aside the fact that he is white (because honestly it has nothing to do with this,)

Wait, you just brought his race into this? You did.

Yes, he's a priviledged rich kid who had an NBA role spoon fed to him for years because of his dad. Then a HC job because of the situation and his relation. Yes, all of that. I understand your angst about that. I never approved either if I'm being honest. But you are really wishing the worst possible outcomes moving forward for him now? Really?

Btw, Dad's across the world try to help their kids with the connections they have. Mine helped me into a rough, dirty, dangerous summer job once. I took the help. Maybe some Dad's don't do that for their kids or can't. But many do. Yes tho, I think it should be different in a profesional sports league when there is only 30 teams of the league. But those were his connections and his father having a share in the team ownership, and dieing while he was working with him, these are unique circumstances.

This is sort of more like a son going to work at Dad's own business. Which all across the business world everywhere sees children of owners taking the helms at some point. That's life man. Maybe that's why so many wanted to see him carry on his Dad's vision, idk. So you hate Ryan out of jealously enough to wish "worst possible outcomes" from now on? You've gone way to far here.

Ryan never gets any job at the NBA level without his daddy hiring him. He never gets promoted to interim HC over much more qualified people without his daddy’s connections. He then takes the permanent job over much more qualified candidates despite not being able to perform it. Then drives the franchise into the ground. He never earned a damn thing and took an opportunity away from people who did. His career deserves to go down in flames.

No NBA job without Daddy? Probably. Tho this isn't something you can own the truth of.

Drives the franchise into the ground? Really? If that's even possible with this franchise which is almost always underwater, it's ROSAS who did the driving. It's Rosas who flipped the roster twice already in two seasons and then totally logjammed it a month before the season starts. This is all every bit on him as much as Saunders poor in game management most of us agree on. Yes, go ahead and fire Saunders for being a weak in game head coach. The rest tho is Rosas and his hand picked crew of brainchilds and assistants. Is it not enough that Saunders got fired for you? You want his life and career in flames now? Too far man, go no further.

1. I mentioned race as a preempt to clarify given all the stuff out in the media about lack of black coaches and not interviewing black coaches when taking Finch. My whole point is that I don’t think this a racial issue, if Flip and Ryan were a different race none of the principles change.

2. We disagree on the role Ryan played. Young players like Okogie and Culver have upside that can be squandered by developing bad habits and a bad reputation in the league. They needed proper coaching and did not get it. Edwards, Nowell, Reid, JMAC, Vando, and MCD are all suffering from the same just to different degrees. I blame Ryan for failing to run a proper offense, defense, or rebounding scheme. I blame Ryan for failing to develop his young players. I blame Ryan for trashing a season losing games that were very winnable. I blame Ryan for the Dlo mess (a competent coach would never let it get that bad.) I blame Ryan for not standing up against small ball. I could go on.

3. We lost years of proper coaching and proper progress because Ryan didn’t have the balls to pass up an opportunity he wasn’t in a position to succeed with. Imagine hiring a lawyer fresh out of law school who knows your case is outside his specialty but takes it and tanks it. You could say the same about a doctor, a stock broker, ect... you can say they owe it to themselves to take their best shot, but that shot has consequences to others, in this case the fan base. It also took the job away from others who worked longer and harder for it. We just have very different values I guess.

[Jedzz]

I hope Finch benches D'Lo's ass if he starts playing selfishly again. Then Rosas will have to decide between his prized player (who just plainly sucks) or his coach on who to get rid off.

Let your hate flow. Get it out of the way. Hopefully things look better from all the players in a little different environment if nothing else.

[Klomp]

Watch on YouTube

Pay attention to 3:15. Remember when Shams broke the Towns playing news a couple weeks ago that Towns refuted? Someone in that mess mentioned Rosas is "a Woj guy." So I don't doubt Woj when he says he knows how Rosas feels about Vanterpool.

[karch34]

He definitely can get emotional at times. Maybe it's just a TV thing versus print, but it's becoming more obvious for him.

He had a meltdown earlier today on twitter too

We just had Trump on twitter for four years. Nothing is a big deal, off rails,or "a meltdown" in comparison on twitter anymore.

What was his question during presser? I had a beer with Doogie at Alary's one time and he's a good guy who's likeable, but agree he's not a great beat guy.

I heard a clip on what I think was Judd and Mackey and he seemed more upset about not keeping Ryan and tanking for the 40% chance you keep the pick. I can see the argument but I think we've had years of tanking to keep a protected rather than instilling a culture of winning and development. I tend to favor true winning culture and building up/developing what you have vs. tanking on the faint hope for another savior to lift a franchise on his own. If we don't get a 2021 pick, then we don't. But trashing the youngest team's mindset for the chance doesn't make sense. You want a shiny new bauble in 2021 then get into Balmoro as that's likely what it is and maybe that was the reason for the pick.

[Klomp]

Here's the full press conference video if you missed it.

Watch on YouTube

[Jedzz]

3. We lost years of proper coaching and proper progress because Ryan didn’t have the balls to pass up an opportunity he wasn’t in a position to succeed with. Imagine hiring a lawyer fresh out of law school who knows your case is outside his specialty but takes it and tanks it. You could say the same about a doctor, a stock broker, ect... you can say they owe it to themselves to take their best shot, but that shot has consequences to others, in this case the fan base. It also took the job away from others who worked longer and harder for it. We just have very different values I guess.

This is a different and more interesting way to look at this that you didn't mention before. Not sure how many would say he should pass up the opportunity but I can see an angle forming here at least. It's just not quite the same as a doctor or lawyer. There isn't qualifications and testing to meet. Plenty of goofball idiots have been hired as coaches in all prosports. Plenty of sons of fathers in pro sports. it's just not the same as your examples but I can certainly see that yes it impacts a huge amount of people and time itself in regard to player development and fans spending their time/money on this, and those who's careers are attached to it. I can see that. Which is a point I'm often making about how this team is always wasting endless years on years with screwed up decisions to quit on seasons early and go into development...tank mode, or otherwise. This very season Rosas already let the cat out of the bag that he looked at this as a development season before it started. He did this.

I wouldn't say we have completely opposite values as I didn't approve of his selection either. I also condemn the Vikings doing the same now for an offensive coordinator's son, and I didn't like Adelman's son as an assistant on the team just like I didn't like Flip's kid coming aboard as an assistant. But I highly disagree with your claims and desires that his life go down in flames now.

[Nick K]

Off topic

Where on earth is KGdabom???

Yes! He has been conspicuous by his absence.

Hope he's ok.

Maybe he had his breaking point woith the Wolves? Naw.

[Nick K]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Another sign of poor management.

Why the hell do you let Saunders fly to NY if you plan on releasing him anyway?

Not that it matters much but a rather classless move to release Saunders after the first game of a 4 game road trip. There‘s more than enough assistant coaches available on the roster that could‘ve taken care of this game until the deal with Finch was finalized.

He flew to NY because the deal was not agreed to yet. They weren't absolutely sure it would be.

[karch34]

2. We disagree on the role Ryan played. Young players like Okogie and Culver have upside that can be squandered by developing bad habits and a bad reputation in the league. They needed proper coaching and did not get it. Edwards, Nowell, Reid, JMAC, Vando, and MCD are all suffering from the same just to different degrees. I blame Ryan for failing to run a proper offense, defense, or rebounding scheme. I blame Ryan for failing to develop his young players. I blame Ryan for trashing a season losing games that were very winnable. I blame Ryan for the Dlo mess (a competent coach would never let it get that bad.) I blame Ryan for not standing up against small ball. I could go on.

Agree on a lot of this. Particularly player development. Seems like we tried to make a lot of young guys into something they're not rather than improving what they are and putting them in position to succeed. Barkley was on BS Podcast and he said something similar (paraphrasing) in that you have coaches saying "we didn't make our shots" when coach had them shooting 3s and that's not their game.

[winforlose]

3. We lost years of proper coaching and proper progress because Ryan didn’t have the balls to pass up an opportunity he wasn’t in a position to succeed with. Imagine hiring a lawyer fresh out of law school who knows your case is outside his specialty but takes it and tanks it. You could say the same about a doctor, a stock broker, ect... you can say they owe it to themselves to take their best shot, but that shot has consequences to others, in this case the fan base. It also took the job away from others who worked longer and harder for it. We just have very different values I guess.

This is a different and more interesting way to look at this that you didn't mention before. Not sure how many would say he should pass up the opportunity but I can see an angle forming here at least. It's just not quite the same as a doctor or lawyer. There isn't qualifications and testing to meet. Plenty of goofball idiots have been hired as coaches in all prosports. Plenty of sons of fathers in pro sports. it's just not the same as your examples but I can certainly see that yes it impacts a huge amount of people and time itself in regard to player development and fans spending their time/money on this, and those who's careers are attached to it. I can see that. Which is a point I'm often making about how this team is always wasting endless years on years with screwed up decisions to quit on seasons early and go into development...tank mode, or otherwise. This very season Rosas already let the cat out of the bag that he looked at this as a development season before it started. He did this.

I wouldn't say we have completely opposite values as I didn't approve of his selection either. I also condemn the Vikings doing the same now for an offensive coordinator's son, and I didn't like Adelman's son as an assistant on the team just like I didn't like Flip's kid coming aboard as an assistant. But I highly disagree with your claims and desires that his life go down in flames now.

Career, not life. I want him either out of basketball or at the very least at the bottom of the pile where he should have been. I don’t know enough about your other examples to know if they have at least some resume to justify their hiring or if it was all nepotism. As for Ryan everything I have ever read about him says it was all nepotism. I have stated my position clearly, Ryan has done incredible harm to this franchise and community. At the end of the day we are at an impasse of values.