In defence of Kahn

[teven_1]

Article over at hardcourt mayhem (don't know how to quote it properly not sure if this is allowed by admins sorry if not) Here are some excerpts:

Kahn stepped into the GM position inheriting a very crummy team. Not too much talent, a non existent bench and the handicap that no marquee free agent would ever sign with the Twolves.

Seriously, the only way the Twolves were convincing Lebron to sign with them this summer was with a ton of chloroform, an unlicensed van and incriminating photographs of the Jordan Crawford dunk.


Along with the signings of guys like Pekovic and Luke Ridnour this team has really added depth, youth and talent. While we wont be winning a championship Kahn has taken some gambles and made some original moves to at least make us young and exciting. For the first time since the KG era we have something to look forward to, and that should count for something.

http://hardcourtmayhem.com/sphericalstudies/?p=94

[collin_k41]

I think the treatment he's gotten has been fair. There's no excuse when you come in talking it up about changing this team, making us younger and more athletic, and challenging with the top teams in 17 months and you fail. I don't care how crummy a team you had to begin with you still told the fans in confidence that we'd at the very least, a very improved team by now. He has made some good moves, and some bad moves, but my main gripe is that he tends to have the habit of bashing his own players, henceforth ruining their trade value and making the player themselves pretty ticked. Oh, and he far too often shows his hand while playing the poker game that is the NBA draft, free agency, etc. It seems more like we're completely rebuilding every season, not moving forward like we should if this were a 17 month plan that was promised. I figure he must be restarting the 17 month period every season because he realizes our roster at that time could never get it done.

I'm not completely Con-Kahn, because he has made us younger, more athletic, and much more cap flexible. I just have yet to see sustained improvement in our team play. I think our talent level overall has gone up, but our team play has yet to show much improvement at all. I still hope Kahn can get it figured out here, but the bottom line is that he deserves the criticism he's gotten.

[teven_1]

I see what you're saying but if you read the article he kinda points out the circumstances that Kahn has had to work with. If you remember pre Kahn our roster was abysmal.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2009.html
We were just a wreck, no depth, not THAT much talented youth and our great vet Mike Miller was hardly invested.
So I kinda agree with the articles premise that while we are still not great I think he has put us on a good course. I guess I can't speak for everyone but I think we have some legit prospects on our team going forward.

Most GMs will promise great things in the first 17 months I dont think anyone could get us a ring in 17 months with what we had. Heck I bet if you put Jordan on the Wolves in 2k11 they still dont get the ring in 2011

[teven_1]

I still hope Kahn can get it figured out here, but the bottom line is that he deserves the criticism he's gotten.

Well all GMs are deserving of criticism, he isn't perfect but still he's getting attacked for taking a chance on Darko and Beasley and just moves that if you ask me were smart moves give our position.

[collin_k41]

^^I think those attacks are for ulterior motives. When 1, 2, or even 3 teams have tried with a player and failed there is no way they want someone to succeed greatly with someone else. That's kind of like a kick in the junk. So ya, I will change my statement to say he deserves MOST of the criticism he's gotten.

Bogus Criticisms:
1. Michael Beasley trade
2. Darko Milicic signing
3. Drafting Ricky Rubio

Ulterior Motives:
1. Other teams are jealous and wanted him
2. Actually I don't know, but it surely has something to do with him not living up to the amazing talent levels of the guys around his draft position. I still don't understand why they think this is a horrible deal for us.
3. Sure we had to wait a couple years, but he is a huge asset whether on our team or in a trade. The true mistake was drafting Jonny with the next pick.

[Peezo]

I don't care how crummy a team you had to begin with you still told the fans in confidence that we'd at the very least, a very improved team by now.

It seems more like we're completely rebuilding every season, not moving forward like we should if this were a 17 month plan that was promised. I figure he must be restarting the 17 month period every season because he realizes our roster at that time could never get it done.

I just have yet to see sustained improvement in our team play. I think our talent level overall has gone up, but our team play has yet to show much improvement at all. I still hope Kahn can get it figured out here, but the bottom line is that he deserves the criticism he's gotten.

You do realize that he has only been here since last may right? By my count, this would be the beginning of his 17th month on the job. Why do you keep talking about him like he has been around and been failing? I don't agree with everything Kahn has done, but for the most part I love his moves here.

Do we all remember that when he got here our team was bad and not improving at all? At least now we seem to have some sort of a plan. Even if this is not the beginning of a championship squad we had a terrible situation under McHale. I think if nothing else we have to be stunned that Kahn was able to COMPLETELY strip down our cap situation and poor blend of talent in two offseasons. Lets see how this second year looks before we start talking about what he did and did not deserve. I think most people who criticize Kahn are people who don't remember what Foye and Miller looked like as wolves. Were they ever going to be champs here? Hell no. And they were two of our better players!

I am excited about the moves and the youth. We have zero bad contracts (maybe Darko, but I think he might be a decent player), more draft picks to come (except the one McFail pissed away), a glut of high end draft picks like Super cool Beas, Love, Webster, and Wes, all of who can be developed, and even cap space.

Kahn might be gone in a year, but he is giving us a chance to climb out of the cellar. I truly believe he takes a lot of undeserved criticism and gets too little praise.

[teven_1]

I guess then the question is why he is hated on so much. I personally get a really angry and intense rejection of Kahns logic by most people. I don't get it.
Not drafting Cousins and trading Al Jeff are the only two moves I think you can really hate on

[teven_1]

I am excited about the moves and the youth. We have zero bad contracts (maybe Darko, but I think he might be a decent player), more draft picks to come (except the one McFail pissed away), a glut of high end draft picks like Super cool Beas, Love, Webster, and Wes, all of who can be developed, and even cap space.

Another thing the article points out is that the moves are really low risk. Darkos contract is only 20 mill over 4 years. Even if Darko mirrors the production he had last season it's a solid contract for a back up bigman that will get some blocks and boards. Obviously we hope for more, but every single one of his moves is low risk

[Klomp]

There's no excuse when you come in talking it up about changing this team, making us younger and more athletic, and challenging with the top teams in 17 months and you fail.

Are we younger? YES.
Are we more athletic? YES.
Are we challenging the top team? REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
Has it been 17 months? NO.

Has he failed? NO.

[Devilzsidewalk]

big thing w/ that 17 month plan was that the summer was going to be the ultimate culmination, the cherry on top that sets everything up and gives that push that creates the momentum for the team going forward for the next 5 years, thats how it was portrayed. What we got was Al and 2 2nds for Beasley, 2 1sts, Ridnour, Darko, and Pekovic. And though Pekovic is generating some quiet excitement, he was expected and not a Kahn move.

I think Kahn bit off a bit more than he could chew and when he couldn't get Gay or make a big move, he ended up treading water and finding out the cold reality of the league, that competition is pretty equal and you can't will your way to victory every time

[Klomp]

What we got was Al and 2 2nds for Beasley, 2 1sts, Ridnour, Darko, and Pekovic.

Thats a pretty good exchange if you ask me. Unless you'd have rather kept Pavlovic and Hollins....

[Devilzsidewalk]

its fine value, but the summer was about to be adding a big name like Gay in free agency. The whole idea was we get to keep our good players and add onto the team w/ that huge cap room we created either in free agency or by creative trade, but hasn't happened so far. We still have until the trade deadline though, so the door isn't closed yet technically

[Klomp]

its fine value, but the summer was about to be adding a big name like Gay in free agency. The whole idea was we get to keep our good players and add onto the team w/ that huge cap room we created either in free agency or by creative trade, but hasn't happened so far. We still have until the trade deadline though, so the door isn't closed yet technically

Did he say we were going to add a big name player? Because I don't recall so. Basically all that hasn't happened is meeting fans expectations.

[Devilzsidewalk]

its fine value, but the summer was about to be adding a big name like Gay in free agency. The whole idea was we get to keep our good players and add onto the team w/ that huge cap room we created either in free agency or by creative trade, but hasn't happened so far. We still have until the trade deadline though, so the door isn't closed yet technically

Did he say we were going to add a big name player? Because I don't recall so. Basically all that hasn't happened is meeting fans expectations.

well he didn't name names obviously, but yes he did say flat out that we were going to use that space in free agency or else taking on an onerous contract from some team in financial trouble, or a sign and trade. Chris Wright and Rambis were always talking about free agency too, they sold it every time they were asked about the rebuild. The sheer size of the cap space + talk about needing a difference maker all the time implied this was going to be a big move. Then the 17 month plan expired, and that didn't happen. Kahn underestimated how hard it can be to make a good move, just like most people do that criticize GMs moves, which is why I'm not killing him for that because I think the window is still open, I'm just pointing out that he bit off more than he could chew w/ the 17 month plan and thinking that he could make things happen just by having a proactive mindset.

[Klomp]

well he didn't name names obviously, but yes he did say flat out that we were going to use that space in free agency or else taking on an onerous contract from some team in financial trouble, or a sign and trade.

Well technically you could consider the Beasley trade as one of those. Webster trade was made on PORs end for money reasons too. And we signed Ridnour, Milicic, and Pekovic in free agency.

We explored other options, but I' rather be in our position now than to have overpaid for Gay or Johnson. In a position like Kahn is in, you have to be flexible. Don't pay someone more than hes worth just because thats how much other teams are offering. Thats how you get a roster full of Troy Hudsons and Mike Jameses.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I agree now and frankly I like the roster at the moment and also like that theres still options w/ the finances, but I think Kahn does himself a disservice when he gets too involved with trying to market the team. Just let his transactions do the talking on the court, you can't sell reclamation projects like Darko and Beasley and Martell Webster as your master rebuild, nobody's going to buy that.

[Narf]

And though Pekovic is generating some quiet excitement, he was expected and not a Kahn move.

I agree that Kahn set his sights on a #1 option type free agent (Rudy Gay is the low end of that) and has not come through, but I think Kahn get's far too little credit for Pekovic. He went overseas several times and met with Pekovic in person to convince him to come over to the US for a very good deal for the Wolves. 6 months ago people called me delusional for saying Pekovic would come over to play for the Wolves, and now it was expected and Kahn gets no credit? I just don't agree with that. Maybe he would have come over or maybe not... but Kahn went over there, made sure he was coming, and then convinced him to sign a fantastic deal with us.

Kahn has said the plan is still to get a legit #1 scoring option unless Beasley or Johnson morphs into one. And he still has a slew of young assets and cap space to do it with. But he's clearly struck out swinging trying to get one so far. Other than not getting a superstar, I see nothing to complain about.

$0.02

[The J Rocka]

Maybe Kahn waits to see if Beasley can develop into a #1 option before swinging another deal, and possibly wait to see what Wesley can bring.

[mandurugo]

I don't think Kahn ever promised to sign a big name player, obviously that would be an impossible promise to keep. It was always my impression that what he promised to do was put the organization in a position to try for a big name player if one became available, which he has managed to do. And in practice, I'm not too discouraged they didn't get Gay, I don't think he's going to be worth the salary in a couple of years... well, take that prediction for what it's worth. I'm still satisfied by the job he's done. That said, it should still be a pretty tough year for the wolves.

[teven_1]

I agree now and frankly I like the roster at the moment and also like that theres still options w/ the finances, but I think Kahn does himself a disservice when he gets too involved with trying to market the team. Just let his transactions do the talking on the court, you can't sell reclamation projects like Darko and Beasley and Martell Webster as your master rebuild, nobody's going to buy that.

Well as the article states and how I personally feel is that it's realllly hard to sign free agents in Minnesota. Carmelo, Amare, Lebron, Chris Bosh,
none of them would ever dream of signing with Minny right now. We don't have that "NY" cache. For that I think Kahn got creative and got us some nice talent.
2nd we tried hard to sign Gay and the Grizzlies overpayed him. Thank god we dont have gay for that price!
Kahn hasn't eliminated our flexibility with low risk moves and got us some nice young talent. What else could he have done?

http://hardcourtmayhem.com/sphericalstudies/