From the Star Tribune report on today's press conference by Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on the firing of Coach Todd RIchards:

"Professional sports, it's a great business to work in. And most days are great days." Fletcher said. "This is not one of them. ... There is a human side to this. He's got a family, and certainly it's not easy on anybody.

"But, again, we're in the business of winning and losing games. And the results are what they are. And part of my decision is based on the results of the past two seasons, part of my decision was based on the fact, I thought, we needed more from some players. And part of my decision was based on the fact that, going forward, we needed a new voice to maximize production from this particular group of players.

"I want to point out, I really do believe in sports that not every coach is the right fit for every team. Teams have different personalities, there are different talent levels and not every coach fits with every team."

I know that the Twolves have folks that read this site.  Please - print this out and paste it on David Kahn's wall.  For that matter, Glen Taylor's chair Wednesday night.  We need to be as decisive as the Wild come Thursday morning.

In the other thread, Poor Dick asked if I would share my thoughts on what to do over the next 12 months.  Thought about it a lot over the weekend and decided to take the lunch hour to start writing it down (and finished during an unbelievably lousy NCAA National Championship game)

Did not do a ton of research for this – so I may be off on some details.  Feel free to comments and correct me.

1 – Fire Rambis and hire this generations version of the young Jerry Solan

I do not think Kurt is a bad guy – just a bad fit for these players and this team at this time.  The fastest way to respectability is by getting the team to play with passion on defense and giving them some freedom to play to their strengths on offense.  I have not seen Kurt be able to do this.  Kurt seems to be too cerebral and rigid, and from my perspective, way too laid back during the games, to coach such a young team.  We need someone that is willing to do what Thibodeau is doing in Chicago – up off the bench, coaching his ass off during games, instilling pride on the defensive end and effort 100% of the time.

Who is the big question.  It must be a career NBA person – no college coaches need apply (and that goes even for a master coach like Coach K).  A bright, young coach with a lot of passion is essential.  Would really prefer someone with a defensive focus.  We have to understand that the Twolves head coaching job will not be a super attractive– not with the 2 premiere coaching jobs in all of basketball expected to be open this summer (Celtics and Lakers).  So, our new coach is likely going to need to be someone who is “rehabbing” his career from a previous failure or someone who is getting his first chance.  Personally, I prefer a rehab.  I still think Casey would be a good fit.  Would be willing to consider Mitchell – though I am little concerned about the rumors of locker room issues in Toronto.

My dark horse candidate is Eric Musselman (who has had a stellar year in the D-NBA again this year).  Musselman lead Golden State for 2 over achieving seasons before falling out of favor.  Like Rambis and the Twolves, he was simply the wrong fit in Sacremento.  But he has a long record of developing players that I think is the most important attribute in our coach selection.

Go ahead and add your other choices.

2 – Sign KLove to a max contract

I am still not convinced that, based on existing NBA rules that strongly favor the slashing wing players, that KLove is an A1 player.  Just don’t see him being the guy to get you that basket, mano-mano, at crunch time to win the key game.  It’s possible he will develop some move that will work in that situation, but his size leads me to doubt it.

But with that said, I think KLove is one of the best A2 type players in the NBA and someone that needs to be a cornerstone player for our team.  His ability to shoot the 3 has tremendously raised his stock.  I see him as a top 25 player for years to come.

I also see KLove as the marketing face of the franchise for the next several years.  Not unlike Mauer is for the Twins.  So even if you are not exactly sure of his value, you have to pay him and secure him for that role.  Selling tickets is still a huge priority for the next several years until we become contenders.

3 – Draft Irving or Barnes

The consensus is that there is no guaranteed super star player at the top of this year’s draft.  (By the way – you know what that means – we will get the #1 pick this year.  Guarantee it.  Mark it down.  Fits our luck).  There will likely be 4-5 players in the top group/tier this year.  We need to make sure we get one – one that does not play the 4 spot!

Irving would be my 1st choice.  I think he is more than athletic enough, has a great handle, sees the floor well and has a super BBIQ.  That alone will reduce our turnover rate significantly and generate a few more easy looks.  For me, Irving immediately adds 6 or 8 more points per game without even scoring a bucket himself.  See what that would do for our record – which is why I think Irving is the top chose for the Twolves.  Not concerned at all about his size (he is big enough) or his shooting (like Rose, that will come)

Barnes is 2nd choice.  I see a wing player with the size and scoring mentality necessary to be a potential A1.  Potential.  He is obviously not there yet – but neither was Kobe at age 19.  There were times in North Carolina’s NCAA tournament run when I saw him make a play out of nothing and said – yep – he knows how to score.  There is another part that I like.  This kid was a Pre Season All American who looked like a deer in the headlights at the start of the year.  But rather than sulk and try an live off his reputation, the kid obviously worked his tail off, kept his head on straight, took the abuse from the ACC crowds, and became an excellent player by year’s end.  That is an intangible that you will never measure by stats – and something that I value highly.  He might not become an A1 – but he sure is going to work at it.

The rest of the top group is going to be mostly PF and one C (Kanter).  We don’t need any of that in this draft.  I am not as high on Williams as I am on Barnes.  Would be disappointed if he fell to us.

If we fall out of the top 4 positions in the draft, I would have to move up.  We are #2 today - barring lousy ping pong ball luck.  So I am feeling good about top 4.  Keep KLove out - let's maximize our loses.  (Let the TANKING begin!!)  Hard to say what it would take until you see the draft order – but I would try very hard to be top 4.

4 – Trade Rubio to Clippers for our 2012 pick back

If we get Irving, this is a no brainer.  Even if we get Barnes, I would still do it.  Before I talk our side, let’s talk the Clippers side.  With Baron Davis gone, they have tried to get Mo Williams to step up in that role.  It is not working out as well as they hoped.  Blake’s not getting as many easy looks from Mo as he did from Baron. With Eric Gordon being more of a scoring PG/SG, the Clippers need a playmaker.  Rubio fits the bill – maybe too good of fit – but I think we need to take that chance (we can always fall back on Sterling f’ing it up, right?).  Rubio would certainly be that playmaker and his reluctance/inability to score would not be an issue.

From a marketing perspective, Rubio is a tremendous asset for the Clippers in LA – young, flashy, Spanish speaking (in a very Hispanic town) player to steal some Hollywood lights from the aging Lakers.  Plus, I think Rubio could get enough local LA endorsements to make do without needing to have an NBA paycheck.  That would make it more likely he comes this year.  I think we can talk the Clippers into it.

Why do the Twolves do it?  Because frankly, we can’t keep waiting.  I don’t see Rubio coming this fall (no need to repeat that discussion).  We need to start building with players who are here, right now.  Plus, I still don’t see Rubio as an A1.  I see a great supporting player, but not an A1.  If he were an A1, I would wait as there are so few A1’s.  But I don’t, and I think we can find a strong PG elsewhere.  (Could we get a do over on Lawson?)

The likely lottery pick in 2012 allows us to draft for need or package for need.  Look at it this way.  If you play out 2011-12, have some good improvement, see a need to take the next step, what do you have asset wise to do it?  No lottery pick, no real anticipated cap space and a mess of average to below average players with expiring contracts.  Not that attractive.  We would be limited to trading without any decent assets.  We would be stuck – and less than half way through the rebuilding.  We need that pick back.

I am sure this will spark some discussion.

5 – Super attractive FA offer for Marc Gasol; as a fall back, a less super attractive FA offer for Greg Oden.

Both these players are on teams that have, or soon will have, salary cap issues.  (I am assuming salary caps are similar in the new CBA).  I don’t think the Grizzles can afford Gasol.  I think they have to pay Randolph instead who, as an unrestricted FA, is going to get a big payday.

Portland has some big money already tied up in a player with a questionable outlook on his long term health. (Roy)  Can they afford to tie up even more money in a 2nd one?  Especially with the way Aldridge is playing?

I think the market for Gasol will be hot and we might need to get creative.  Maybe some sort of trade (might they want their pick back this year?  Would they accept, say Darko or Randolph or Wes in a sign and trade).  I am no CBA expert – maybe other can chime in on what might be possible structure wise to get creative on Gasol.

I think the market for Oden will be lukewarm.  We might have to over pay a little.  But at 23, I see Oden with still lots of potential – even if he never completely recovers his form.  He is big.  He does not have to play above the rim to be effective.  Healthy (a big if, I know) he fills that defensive presence we need.  This is the type of risk you have to take to rebuild a team like ours if our 1st option (Gasol) does not work out.

6 – I would not sign Beasley to a max contract this summer

Probably the hardest decision for me as Beasley is the only potential A1 offensive player on the current roster.  And it is really hard to say how much of Beasley’s development this year was hindered by the triangle and his ankle.  I saw some really good things.  I also saw some nights where effort was sorely lacking.  I guess I am just not sure about his work ethic and that would tip the scales into not extending him.  A calculated risk – if Bealsey blows up under a new coach – my guess is he would never resign with us as a FA feeling that he was slighted.  If he does OK, I think we could slightly over pay and keep him.  If he does not make a big step up, we move on.

This becomes even more problematic if we do get Gasol as our dollars would be spent.  (No above cap / luxury tax for a team losing as much money as we are)

7 – The rest of the roster

Disappointing to say, but there is not a whole hell of a lot you are going to do with the rest of the roster.  Most are under contract for 2011-12 and the few that are not (like Bassy) are readily replaced and have limited value.

My best roster going forward would be:

Irving/Ridnour/Flynn

Wes/Webster/Ellington

Beasley/Wes

Love/Randolph/Pec

Gasol/Darko/Pec

If we got nothing but my 2nd choices, the roster is

Ridnour/FA veteran or Memphis draft choice/Flynn

Barnes/Webster/Ellington

Wes/Beasley/Webster

Love/Beasley/ Randolph

Oden/Darko/Pec

In this case, Beasley does become the 6th man, still playing 30 mpg but mainly with the 2nd unit.  Also, we would be looking at Rubio or drafting the best PG available in 2012-13.

I think the best case gets us mid to upper 30’s in victories in 2011-12 (assuming a 82 game season).  The worse case gets us right around 30 even.

8 – Reassign Kahn

Since I just did all his work, David can be reassigned to a job more suited for his talents – you know – like picking up the dry cleaning and grabbing sandwiches at lunch.  Might as well get something for his salary.

Seriously, I am not thrilled about keeping Kahn.  I would really like Papa Glen to clean house with both Rambis and Kahn leaving.  I just don’t see that happening in a lock out year.  So, I am splitting the difference and keeping Kahn and letting Rambis go as I think a new coach will have far more positive impact than a new GM.

But we do need to limit Kahn’s ability to act on his own.  So, Papa Glen needs to institute a committee approach to player decisions with the new HC and others have a far greater say.

9 – Get all the young guys hooked up with NBA trainers for the summer

Last, all teams give their players summer training programs which, in a normal year, the players would follow up on with the coaching staff.  But in a lock out, the staff will not be able to work with the players.  So, I see a real need for the team to get players signed up with the David Thorpe’s of the world.  Might be border line illegal, but it is something we need to do to make sure our young guys get proper training this summer (during the lock out)

Well, those are my thoughts.  I think they are all reasonably doable.  Will be eager to see the CH community’s comments.

Sorry part 2 is so late.  It was a very busy week.  Here are the thoughts on my visit with a couple of other team's FO folks last Sunday  But rather than rehash stuff that we talk about here at CH all the time, I am going to try and focus in a little more depth on just a few thoughts.

Continue reading this post »

It was my best night at a Twolves game in years. Not because of the game itself – the 1st half was dismal; the 2nd half exciting but with an all too predictable ending.  What made my day was the opportunity to chat basketball in a small group with a couple of “non Twolves” NBA staff before and after the game. It was really fun to hear a different perspective on the NBA in general and the Twolves in particular.  These guys are focused on current NBA players, so there was little talk about Europeans or college players.

So, here goes.  So just to be clear these are not my thoughts, but a report on other’s thoughts taken from the conversation.

Continue reading this post »

I think we all know where the Twolves end up in FA now that Darko and Pekovic are rumored to be signed.  Everything else will need to be trades now – which I don’t see happening until the dust settles.

So, lets try something different.  Where do you see the key players going?  Why?  Let me start

 James

 I see James in only 1 of 2 places – Cleveland or Chicago.  He does not need to share the limelight with anyone – which eliminates Miami.  I don’t see either New York teams being able to immediately compete for a title – and I don’t see James stepping back for a couple of years before moving forward.  Cleveland is home and can offer the most $$$.  Chicago has the most ready to be a championship dynasty team.  I see a pretty quick decision in favor of Chicago.

 Wade

 No decision at all – he is staying in Miami

 Bosh

 I really, really think Houston snags Bosh.  Bosh is a certified star but based on the current NBA rules (which favor SG/SF type players), he needs better support.  Houston has it.  Plus, Houston can give Toronto enough assets to get Bosh a max contract in sign and trade.

Johnson

 If he is only about the money, I see him staying with Atlanta.  But my bet is that he heads to which ever team James goes to  through a sign and trade.  As we saw this year, he is not able to carry a team in the playoffs – but would be devastating playing #2 to James.

 Amare

 A big winner – he gets a max deal, the fame of NY and his old coach back by signing with the Knicks.  I see the Kincks keeping Lee and look to add a shooter from the 2nd tier.

 Dirk

 Stays put – but with a contract that has more years but less dollars to allow Dallas to try and get some help – which they will get – through an Al Jefferson trade.

Boozer

I see Boozer Miami bound to play with Wade.  A very good 1-2 that should equal just about anything else in the East.  Bigger plus – I then see Miami cherry picking the B list with their remaining money to get the rest of the pieces they need to contend.

Pierce/Allen – will stay in Boston and attempt to cheat age for another couple of years.

So, what does everyone else think?

While all the media focus has been on the draft, the Twolves have been very active working the phones with nearly every team with a significant FA.  No, we aren't talking LeBron or Wade - but we have talked about nearly everyone else.

Remember - it will be far more lucrative for a FA to do a sign and trade than just sign.  They get more money - but the bigger plus - they get 1 more year under the current CBA.  Players/agents expect big changes in the next CBA  - if they can lock in right now for longer years - all the better.  This is especially appealing to younger FA - the older ones seem to be less interested in money and more interested in championship rings.  (a trend that started with Karl Malone and seem to gain more traction each and every year)

The Twolves goal is to have "deals in principle" in place with as many players/teams as possible, so rather than starting negotiations when a FA of interest "pops up", a deal could be triggered immediately as the FA dominoes start to fall.

PA reported on one such "deal in principle".  My FO friend says that that are actually a few "deals in principle" in place.  And he expects even a few more to be made before July 1.  Sorry - no names - in fact - I did not even ask.  But my FO friend said that the Twolves were being "very aggressive" with their offers to make ours standout.

So if PA would have just reported it like this - rather than the cryptic "big name FA tied to Twolves" stuff, he would have been doing his followers a big service - insight as to what the Twolves are doing - without damaging any specific action.

But before we get excited - there is a HUGE rub.  And its not the Twolves spending the money on the FA salary (which I expected to be the issue based on Taylor's losses).  It is if the FA will accept the trade to the Twolves.

This is not a given.  The Twolves are not viewed as a stable franchise, an up and coming franchise, or a "desirable" location.  Kahn will need to be at his saleman's best to get that attitude change.

I can offer a little more.  Big Al will be involved in any major FA sign and trade.  There is not much stomach to pay Big Al and a FA with the staff knowing that we still need more pieces (and time) to be a championship caliber team.  Rather, we will be sweetening Big Al with current/future draft picks.  (Don't be surprised if one of the 2 later 1st round picks never wear a Twolves uniform)  Most NBA teams believe our next few years are lottery type seasons and see having one of our picks as a huge sweetener to a deal.

I guess that's it for now.

The weather did not cooperate for golf on Saturday, so I got to spend sometime with my FO friend talking basketball in the clubhouse instead.  A few insights – sorry – very few names for obvious reasons.

He confirms what I have felt for a while – Kahn is up against the wall this summer.  He has to produce a team that is more interesting to watch.  It does not need to win more – it needs to be more interesting to watch.  Taylor was quite frankly disappointed at the huge decrease in interest as the season progressed.  Taylor’s rope is far shorter now then when McHale was in charge because, quite frankly, Taylor is losing far more money.

The calls have been made to all the agents of all the FA to gage interest in them becoming a Twolve.  Not surprisingly, none of the top 5 or 6 have the Twolves on their lists.  The 2nd tier grouping only has a few with “tentative” interest – which I interpret meaning that they will come to us only if they do not get better offers.  Pretty clear that signing a strong FA is NOT likely.

Inquires have been made to the teams holding the top 8-10 picks.  Yes – we have checked with teams below us.  (A good thing in my opinion)  Washington is keeping their pick no matter what and will select Wall.  Philadelphia is generating lots of interest – right now – they want to trade Brand & #2 for an expiring plus young player (together equal to Brand’s $$) and top 12 pick this year.  A very steep price.  We are not going to get #2 using current assets. New Jersey is in a state of chaos right now – new owner, no GM – no one knows yet what will happen.  That is a challenge – predicting what they will do is a critical factor in our planning.

Portland is being uber aggressive in calling for a top 5 pick.  Guesses are they are looking for one of the best big men to supplement Oden/Prys/Camby.  Can’t blame they one bit – the health/age of those guys is really their Achilles heel.  The other ones being reported (like Houston) are more the feeling out type calls.  Portland is trying to deal now.

Lots of teams calling to see if we will participate in 3 team trades.  The reason – nearly everyone sees the top FA wanting sign and trades rather than just a FA signing. That way they can max their contract $$$ under the current collective bargaining agreement.  (The new CBA is expected to be far less favorable to players)  My FO friend feels this is a HUGE positive development plus for the Twolves – our assets work far better in helping other facilitate a big time FA trade that could lead to better players/picks – than just trying to do it on our own.  For example, a trade of Big Al to Indiana might nab the expiring contract (Murphy/Dunleavy) who could be moved to Phillie if we wanted to take back Brand for #2.  There are lots of these “what if” scenarios being played out right now.

Everyone is on the table – save Rubio.  SnP is right – Kahn is definitely all in on Rubio.

He does not see both Big Al and Love on the team next fall.  Both have market value – though Al’s is less than his contract value meaning we would need to take back some less than desirable $$$ (and/or sweeten with a nice pick).  It looks like Love will bring back equal salary value.  Personally (me not my friend), I am betting Love leaves, not Big Al.  Especially is Favors or Cousins becomes our pick.

Draft board goes up as soon as the combine is over this week.  Was disappointed in the larger number of top 10’s unwilling to come.  More and more agents holding their players back.  Means a lot more individual workouts will need to be scheduled.  He feels that hurts the evaluation process – hard to project “competitive instincts” in an individual work out.

Guess that’s it.  What does everyone think?

to facilitate a 3 player swap that gets Stoudemire to Miami?

Phoenix really can't trade enough players to make this trade work on its own.  Miami does not have enough expiring contracts to make it happen either.  But with the Twolves as the 3rd team?  Things get interesting.

For a point of reference, Blount/Cardinal/Wilkens = Stoudemire - all with expiring contracts - something Phoenix just can't do.

So, what would people want to see back?  Miami's draft choices?  Younger players?  Just curious.