Wittman Fired!! For real this time!!

jack612 · Post #1 » by **jack612** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:45 pm

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolve ... LanchO7DiU

Randy Wittman, the eighth head coach in Timberwolves history, was fired today and will be replaced by Kevin McHale, the team will announce at a 2 p.m. news conference.

The Wolves were 38-105 under Wittman. He coached one full season and parts of two others.

The Wolves (4-15) have the fourth-worst record in the NBA this season. They started last season 3-24 and were on pace for one of the worst records in NBA history. They finished the season 22-60, still the third-worst mark in the league in 2007-08.

McHale hired Wittman in January 2007 when he fired Dwane Casey with the Timberwolves at .500, 20-20.

The Wolves went 12-30 the rest of the way and then in the summer of 2007 traded franchise player Kevin Garnett to Boston for Al Jefferson, four other players and draft picks.

McHale was 19-12 in 2005 when he took over coaching duties after he fired Flip Saunders.

Post #2 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:47 pm

YES!!!! News this good requires multiple threads.

DrSithMirth · Post #3 » by **DrSithMirth** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:53 pm

Confirmed. Just heard it on ESPN radio. McHale will take over again.

PeeDee · Post #4 » by **PeeDee** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:55 pm

I will quote myself from another thread.

PeeDee wrote:DING DONG THE WITT IS DEAD!!! WHICH OLD WITT?!?! THE WICKED WITT!!! DING DONG THE WICKED WITT IS DEAD!!!

collin_k41 · Post #5 » by **collin_k41** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:55 pm

I'm watching it on ESPN right now!!! BOO YA!!!!!!

funkatron101 · Post #6 » by **funkatron101** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:58 pm

I think jack612 is lying to us again and has somehow gotten the internets and the media involved. I'm not going to fall for that again, jack612.

karch34 · Post #7 » by **karch34** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:00 pm

Good news in that respect.

Of course this just fixes one of the many things wrong with the team.

Post #8 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:03 pm

^Gotta start somewhere, though.

DrSithMirth · Post #9 » by **DrSithMirth** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:04 pm

Until management changes, nothing's going to improve. This is a replacement of deck hands on the Titanic.

prefuse73 · Post #10 » by **prefuse73** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:05 pm

Nice PeeDee

I like the notion of McHale taking over for the rest of the season and hopefully this is his last chance to make it work with the talent he has accumulated. If even he can't demonstrate the potential of this group, then he should be out the door as well this summer. Not sure who to replace him with but JVG, Sam mitchell, avery johnson are my preferences in order. As far as GM replacement, that one is tough and very important. It seems like hoiberg wanted Mayo and Mchale wanted Love...so maybe we make them co-gm's and give Hoiberg as much power....idk. maybe a whole new person would be best

DrSithMirth · Post #11 » by **DrSithMirth** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:06 pm

BTW, if McHale is honest with himself, he'll find Dwayne Casey, go to him and kiss his arse until Casey says it's ok to stop.

wolves_fan_82au · Post #12 » by **wolves_fan_82au** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:07 pm

wow mchale went 19-12 last time he coached??? thats not bad at all

TMo519 · Post #13 » by **TMo519** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:07 pm

Like I said in the other thread, if this team continues to flounder, I HAVE to believe Taylor will see that changes need to be made (meaning McHale will have to go). That's my hope at least. Of course, I would be cool if the team made a drastic change and suddenly made a run and finished with 35 wins this season......hahahahahahahaha

Howler21 · Post #14 » by **Howler21** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:07 pm

I got the text alert from espn while sitting in my final accounting class and just about stood up to let out a woot! Wow.....its a start!

D1SGRUNTL3D · Post #15 » by **D1SGRUNTL3D** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:22 pm

Im very pleased.

Twitt can return about 96% of that 3.5 mill he earns per year.

Busch Legion · Post #16 » by **Busch Legion** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:28 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3754151

<b>McHale will step down from his front-office duties to concentrate on coaching. The team has called an afternoon news conference.</b>

!!!

jack612 · Post #17 » by **jack612** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:30 pm

holy **** yes!!!

Post #18 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:35 pm

It is unfortunate that it coems to this because I feel like we wasted a lot of time. We shoudl have had the right coach in here two years ago to help our young palyers. Now Wittman and possibly the rest of the coaching staff will have to uproot their families and move on.

I hope that we find a good coach this time. One that can take us to infinity, and beyond.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #19 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:44 pm

It's unfortunate to get fired during the holiday season, but that's the life of an NBA coach.

Hope he finds life as an asst coach and hope the players step the hell up.

fmi-agent · Post #20 » by **fmi-agent** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:47 pm

Well, I like that McHale gets responsibility for the club he put together. The homer in me keeps thinking that McHale gets a bad rap...but I have to imagine that the end result will be McHale being ousted before the 2009 draft.

I'm also thinking that our chances for that elusive #1 lottery pick are better than ever. That's part of the perverse joy of following this sad-sack franchise......