In another big change with the organization, The Timberwolves invited some non-mainstream bloggers to today’s press conference announcing David Kahn as new president of basketball operations. Below is a recap of some of what was said this afternoon:
Glen Taylor says he’s pleased with the decision and is happy the search process if over. As for media reports on the GM search, he said he found interesting some of the things reported during the process as they weren’t true and were perhaps just speculation.
On why Taylor chose Kahn:
He was looking for the same type of characteristics as he would with leaders for his other companies. Along with getting references from NBA ownerships, coaches, and management and putting together their own list, he also used a company that works on hiring people with leadership. He said the process was longer than anticipated because it took more time than expected to get permission from other teams to talk to their employees about a position with the Wolves.
Items Taylor mentioned that appealed to him about Kahn:
-He worked for Indiana, a state similar to Minnesota
-His success with the team during his 9-year tenure
-His mentor was Donnie Walsh, a person Taylor described as someone who extends himself to lots of different needs within the league
-He was recommended by a number of people within the league
-His involvement with the D-League, a group Taylor called an important part of the league
-Taylor sees the NBA changing a finances being a big part of that
-His ability to work with people in different situations
Kahn introduced himself and said he decided last summer to return to the league. He talked about being in or on the periphery of the NBA for the last 24 years. He said his criteria for the job were:
-The owner must be committed
-The team must be in a situation where it can win quickly
-Young significant pieces and tremendous flexibility
Questions:
Will Kevin McHale return-
The question portion of the conference began soon after Kahn’s intro. It was initiated when Mike Max immediately asked about Kevin McHale’s status with the team.
Kahn laughed and said that he had the over/under on that question being asked at 7 seconds. He said he has the authority to do what he wants to do with the coaching position. He said he and McHale would get together early next week and start to make their way to a decision point
Kahn said during his first interview he came to town and saw the team playing Denver on a Sunday (the team played Denver on Sun April 6). He liked how, despite the fact that the team was clearly overmatched, they moved together all game. He watched some other games after that and some how Kevin McHale was keeping the team together. Said he’s talked to Larry Bird and Bill Walton about Kevin McHale but that he knows him more through other people than he does personally. He knows that the players/some of the players support McHale and want him to return. He doesn’t have a coach list, he said, because that would be a disservice to draft prep time.
On other candidates for the position-
Britt Robson asked Taylor if Kahn was the first person to whom this job was offered. Taylor’s response: We’ve had no one turn the job down.
Jerry Zgoda later mentioned Randy Pfund and Dennis Lindsey and said that the impression is that Kahn was the team’s 3rd or 4th choice. Taylor said that was completely inaccurate and that he will stand by his word.
Steve Aschburner asked Taylor about reports that he wouldn’t give full control or authority to the new hire. Taylor stressed that those reports were false and inaccurate. He said that if you’re coming to the team, you want success and control of your own future.
On Kahn’s makeup-
When asked if he was more a personnel guy than a finance guy, Kahn replied that he was both, something the most efficient people in the sport have to be, he said. He’s intensely aware of where revenues are and also said “but I know basketball.”
On David Stern’s influence on Kahn’s hiring-
Zgoda also asked how much influence David Stern had on Taylor’s decision to hire Kahn. Taylor said he only used Stern as a reference and asked him if there was any reason the team shouldn’t hire him.
On whether Taylor wants to keep Kevin McHale-
On whether Taylor wants Kevin McHale to remain with the organization, he said that there were two levels to that. He says that McHale is a great person and will always be his friend, but the team’s needs are separate from that. His goal, he said, was to have a championship team.
Other questions for Kahn-
Kahn said that if the team makes a mistake, it won’t be because of lack of organization, preparation, or attention to detail. He emphasized innovation, ingenuity, and preparation in making decisions.
In response to another question from Robson, Kahn said that the league spends a lot of time scouting players in the draft but maybe doesn’t spend enough time scouting NBA players as they should. He says he wants to stay on top of that and wants to thoroughly know players other teams may offer them.
To a question from Aschburner, Kahn said, with all due respect to Al Jefferson, he wanted a transcendental star, someone who can galvanize the locker room. You can count on 1-2 hands the number of those kinds of players in the league, he said.
When asked how he maintained relationships within the league while in the D-League, Kahn said he stayed extremely close to people. He described himself as a big networking guy who liked talking to people. He knew he wanted to return to the NBA so he took steps to prepare for that. He said that the current staff is ahead of him and for now he needs to listen and rely upon them.
Other questions for Taylor-
Taylor was asked if he was able to ascertain how well Kahn handled adversity. The owner said that after talking to others including Donnie Walsh, he’s confident that Kahn is capable in that area.
Zgoda asked about Taylor comparing this search process with looking for a CEO in any of his other companies. Taylor said that though each of his companies are different, he looks for similar traits: quality of leadership, being able to work with others, to have input and listen, can make decisions, and work with Taylor on key financial issues.