Kahn won’t use the draft as a deadline to decide the team’s coaching direction. He’s met on several occasions with Kevin McHale, who led the Wolves to a 20-43 record last season after being forced out of the front office. Kahn could retain McHale or bring in a new staff.
In either case, it won’t impact the team’s draft strategy.
“I remember when I was at Indiana for nine years there were at least two occasions where we didn’t hire a coach until well after the draft,” Kahn said. “One can make an argument, and I’m not playing it this way, but since we have so many picks and might change some things, you figure that out first and then find the coach piece because maybe the personnel will dictate the decision. We are not playing it that way. I assure you. I’m just pointing out that you can look at it a couple different ways.”
Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn and coach Kevin McHale had a third meeting Monday, but that doesn’t mean a decision on McHale’s future with the team is imminent.
Kahn, in an e-mail today, described the meeting as “impromptu” and declined further comment.
A little birdie says that if Kevin McHale remains the Timberwolves’ coach, which now seems likely, he’ll be required to hire a former NBA head coach as his top assistant for in-depth help. The Wolves will provide McHale with a list of candidates from whom to choose.
It’s hard to envision Kahn keeping around a guy who used to have his job, but the new prez has given no indication as to what he might decide. Those within the organization, however, seem to believe McHale is a goner.
If that’s the case, the Timberwolves could target longtime coach and TV analyst Mike Fratello. Kahn and Fratello have been a part of the same organization before, when both had a hand in NBC’s pro basketball coverage in the early 1990s. Fratello was a color analyst and Kahn worked on the network’s “Showtime” show.
Other names floated by Minneapolis Star-Tribune NBA reporter Jerry Zgoda as possible McHale replacements: Sam Mitchell, Avery Johnson, Jeff Van Gundy and Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau — who has to be the most mentioned candidate never to have landed a job in league history.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel” and the longtime sporting anthem for Liverpool Football Club fans.
It’s also the name for a new foundation started by a local breast cancer survivor who wants to help women and their families cope with the disease…
A kickoff event is planned for 5 p.m. June 26 at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell. Activities will include a silent auction and raffle and guest appearances by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Miller and the Minnesota Vikings’ Chad Greenway. The auction will include sports memorabilia, weekend getaways and gift baskets. T-shirts and tote bags with the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” logo will be on sale, too.
