The St. Paul Pioneer Press writes in an uncredited item: “If Kevin McHale decides not to return as Timberwolves coach, and if another team already has hired Flip Saunders, don’t be surprised if the Wolves try to lure Tom Izzo.” Yes, it is Izzo job rumor season.
Just before walking onto the court for practice in Lucas Oil Stadium, I mentioned to Izzo that according to a blog out of the Twin Cities, Izzo could be pursued by the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves under the right conditions.
“The Timberwolves,” Izzo said with genuine astonishment. “Where did that one come from?”
You could have fanned him with a brick…
McHale decision to include rookie Kevin Love in this benching is unfortunate. The motivation is understandable–Love is part of a poorly performing unit, and the coach doesn’t want to further foster cliques and resentments arising out of a “teacher’s pet” dynamic against a player who has been lavishly praised by McHale the entire season. But Kevin Love has performed with more poise, more effort, and more talent these part two weeks than anyone on the ballclub with the possible exceptions of Cardinal and, perhaps, Smith. On the other hand, to continually run Love out there not only as a pivot man in the low block, but with a succession of woefully undersized “power forwards” beside him on the front line does little to stimulate the rook’s development.
From The Blowtorch: Kevin McHale is a Graveyard Smash
Kevin McHale said he hasn’t made up his mind, but expect him to go with a mix-and-match starting lineup that includes some of the subs that started Wednesday’s game at Philadelphia and some of his regular starters.You can bet Rodney Carney will be out there first against a Cleveland team that has won a franchise record 58 games and is aiming to match the franchise record, reached once already this season, for consecutive victories with 11.
The Wolves worked out on the Cavs’ practice court in the Q this afternoon for about an hour.
Why should any Minnesotan consider buying a season ticket next season to watch the Timberwolves? We like NBA hoops. We like NBA athletes. We have no faith that the franchise is being properly run.
— Izzy, Hastings, Minn.
Well, Izzy, the way the Twin Cities economy is headed — unemployment in Minnesota jumped to 8.1 percent in February, highest rate in 25 years — maybe your boss will cover a Wolves bet for you. Remember, team owner Glen Taylor has promised a full refund to any early ticket buyer who loses his or her job in 2009. Oh, you want something more positive? The Wolves have three good-to-very-good pieces in place: Jefferson, Randy Foye and Kevin Love. They have a couple others — Ryan Gomes, Mike Miller — who would be solid parts on a playoff team. They need a legit point guard, if Foye can’t do it, and defensive size up front. But that’s not really answering your question either. Running the franchise is what seems least likely to change. Kevin McHale has been bumped from the front office to the bench, but whoever Taylor hires as next GM — whether it’s an outsider or Fred Hoiberg (how come these nice-guy guards from the Bulls like Steve Kerr and John Paxson kept getting these jobs?) — will be dealing with a hands-on owner.