new coach

[benshizzle]

Avery Johnson might be available soon. He proved to be successful with a rebuilding team and looks decent at developing younger players. Brought the mavs to playoffs multiple times. made them a contender for a series of years. I think he would fit in nice as a coach for wolves. ALso firing wittman would truly send a message to the youngsters that no ones job is safe. i doubt there is much chance for mchale and taylor to fire wittman but if it happens it would shake things up probably for the better. anyone else agree

[karch34]

He wouldn't be a bad choice but I think they're going to give Wittless one more year. Then we'll have some more draft picks, some cap room, and sign a real coach to signal the next stage of development.

[Mikchek]

I think we need to get the coach NOW!

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm willing to give Wittman a chance with a talented roster, with the draft pick we're getting and a full year of Foye and Jefferson with the young guys getting older, I expect +15-20 in the win column. If thats too tough, then tough ****

[4ho5ive]

I agree that Avery would be a good fit here. But im not sure firing him would be sending the right message to the pups.

There has been alot of talk of Avery sitting out a season and then coming back to coaching in 09. I think that would be perfect for us, Witt cant really develop an identity, becomes lead assistant, Avery comes, we make a splash in free agency.

Please just wait a year for us Avery!

[Steve_Holiday]

avery johnson has a great winning percentage and has achieved far more in just a few years coaching than RW ever will...but, he never coached a "rebuilding" team as a poster said earlier. dallas was stacked when he got the position. additionally, johnson completely lost control of his veteran team in the first round of the playoffs. would our young players respect the little general? is he actually a good coach that players like, or has his win % been a product of having a talented roster and owner confidence?

just playing devil's advocate. more importantly than replacing the coach, McHale needs to step down. true change starts from the top (probably includes Taylor as well), although finding a buyer that would keep the franchise around is probably a lot harder than replacing McHale.

[4ho5ive]

I dont agree that you fire McHale just to fire him. He's made his mistakes in the past but a lot of it has been out of his hands. I think with the KG trade, the Snyder deal, and clearing the locker room of cancers, he has at least proved to be competent with this new direction we are taking. I dont like anyone else out there until Hoiberg is ready, and I dont want to throw Hoiberg into the fire right away.

As for Avery, from my knowledge he wanted to get rid of Dirk, and he also was not in favor of moving for Jason Kidd. But control freak-owner Mark Cuban did it anyway, so I can see someway how he lost the locker room. From what I have seen, he likes to run the offense thru a true big man (we have one). His system is not built for a 10-12 APG calibur PG. Its more like in the 6-7 range, thats why Harris never really racked up a lot of assists. Foye seems like the perfect PG/CG for his system. I would love to give Avery a shot.

[Steve_Holiday]

mchale's recent deals have been...fine. but it's a lot better test of a gm how they build a contender as opposed to how well they gut a team. also, what evidence is there to think hoiberg will be any more competent?

I actually give mchale more credit than most around here...but it would be hard for me to get excited about a new coach when the regime remains the same.

[theGreatRC]

Avery would do good with a young team, he would give them direction and call plays each time down.

[4ho5ive]

mchale's recent deals have been...fine. but it's a lot better test of a gm how they build a contender as opposed to how well they gut a team. also, what evidence is there to think hoiberg will be any more competent?

I actually give mchale more credit than most around here...but it would be hard for me to get excited about a new coach when the regime remains the same.

I agree with you on Hoiberg, i said it in my first post that he isnt ready yet. I would like to know who you think is a better candidate out there to take over the GM title. My whole argument was based on the fact that I dont think anyone is that much better to give reason to fire McHale.

[shrink]

mchale's recent deals have been...fine. but it's a lot better test of a gm how they build a contender as opposed to how well they gut a team....

Well, McHale took a team that had lost 60 games for three years in a row, and got them into the play-offs in two years. As Forbes pointed out it was one of the biggest turn arounds in sports (we were really really bad).

[Tekkenlaw]

I have faith in McHale, he has pretty much created an idiot proof situation for himself by stockpiling young high quality talent and draft picks as well as clearing out long term contracts. As long as he doesn't do something stupid like trade Randy Foye I trust him to get us to the next level.

Avery Johnson would be great, and I think our situation would be very appealing to him.

[Worm Guts]

If by idiot proof, you mean they can't get much worse, then yes the Wolves situation is idiot proof.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I have faith in McHale, he has pretty much created an idiot proof situation for himself by stockpiling young high quality talent and draft picks as well as clearing out long term contracts. As long as he doesn't do something stupid like trade Randy Foye I trust him to get us to the next level.

Avery Johnson would be great, and I think our situation would be very appealing to him.

Bulls did that too, now they look boned. You never know, we could not trade Foye and he could never develop, or we could trade him then he turns into the G.O.A.T.

[invno1]

Ainge Did that in Boston, Then had turned picks and youth into what Celtics are now (whatever that is). Funny thing I think he kept the best of his youth in the KG for Jefferson trade. Timberwolves will be free of lots of cap next year and will have had another year to sort out the youth plus what younguns come in this year. Taylor will keep the coach and E-Val the talent.

[Worm Guts]

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Well, McHale took a team that had lost 60 games for three years in a row, and got them into the play-offs in two years. As Forbes pointed out it was one of the biggest turn arounds in sports (we were really really bad).

That was 13-14 years ago. The Wolves have missed the playoffs for 4 straight seasons and progessively gotten worse each season.

[shrink]

That was 13-14 years ago. The Wolves have missed the playoffs for 4 straight seasons and progessively gotten worse each season.

The guy asked if McHale was capable of a rebuild, and I pointed out he already has done it.

BTW, During that 12 years of KG, McHale never got a chance to do another rebuild -- the fans would never have allowed it.

[Worm Guts]

-= original quote snipped =-



The guy asked if McHale was capable of a rebuild, and I pointed out he already has done it.

BTW, During that 12 years of KG, McHale never got a chance to do another rebuild -- the fans would never have allowed it.

Steve Holiday didn't ask if McHale was capable of a rebuild, he said it was the hard part. McHale has done OK over the last year but how hard is it to get 1 good player for KG, trade for shorter contracts, and buyout overpaid players?

[Tekkenlaw]

If by idiot proof, you mean they can't get much worse, then yes the Wolves situation is idiot proof.

There is more to basketball what's in than the win-loss column.

Are the blazers just an average team stuck in no man's land?

Pacers and Knicks both won more games than we did, but I'd prefer to be in our situation any day of the week.

[deeney0]

-= original quote snipped =-
how hard is it to get 1 good player for KG, trade for shorter contracts, and buyout overpaid players?

idk, considering how bad some of the other superstar trades have been, seems like its harder than it should be.