Windhorst: Sam Mitchell won't be returning

[AbeVigodaLive]

!

I don't get the stability argument for keeping Sam. Do you really see him as the long term guy? I always saw retaining him as delaying the inevitable. Wolves would be looking for a new coach in a year, two tops. What good is that? Let's get the right guy in now and build continuity from that.

There's absolutely nothing in the Wolves' history that tells me any new coach will last more than a year or two...it's just not the way we have operated. The fans here become dissatisfied quickly with a coach, and the management team responds by making a change. And I fear we have reacted too quickly again just like we did with Flip, Duane and Kevin in the last decade. There was really nothing wrong with any of their performances, just like there was nothing wrong with this year's 13-win improvement. But the fanbase wanted a change. I'm just tired of starting over every year or two with a new system, and I'm not going to be surprised if we find ourselves in the same position in a year...it's how we roll here.

It's not just here.

It's a league where a COY winner gets canned. A league where a guy gets canned after winning 65% of his games. A league where a guy gets canned with a 30 - 10 record and a #1 seed before the All Star Game.

So if SUCCESSFUL teams churn through coaches, what do you expect from the least successful franchise in modern NBA history?


[Note: I think it's also important to note that Sam Mitchell was never hired to be the Head Coach. He was hired to be an Assistant Coach and only moved up the ladder through sudden and tragic circumstances.]

Hmm...which COY winner getting canned are you referring to...the 2011 one, or the 2007 one?

Many/most former COY candidates get canned at some point in their careers... so it's not news when it happens to one holding an interim head coach title for a 53-loss team nearly a decade later.

I was referring to the coach who won 57 games in 2013 and was fired after the season.

[AbeVigodaLive]

LST, Jed Hughes - the Korn Ferry dude that is leading the search - is a major player in sports front office and coaching searches. It's his area of expertise.

I'm very much against giving someone like Thibs or JVG too much power and I'm not sure either of them are worth it if that's table stakes for them. I would prefer a "coach's coach" - a guy that loves to coach and simply wants to have his say and be consulted with on player personnel moves.

I actually thought Flip was a better GM than coach.....

Good info, q. Here's his KF qualifications page...sounds like a good football guy (even coached the Viking secondary at one point), but doesn't say anything about basketball. I still think this is merely a protective move, and that this will mostly be Glen's call.

http://www.kornferry.com/consultants/jedhughes/

OK, now that I see his picture, I don't like the guy.

I had David Kahn flashbacks.

Ewwww.


[Note: At least I hope that guy doesn't eat his ear wax while being filmed sitting in the stands on tv.]

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

!

I don't get the stability argument for keeping Sam. Do you really see him as the long term guy? I always saw retaining him as delaying the inevitable. Wolves would be looking for a new coach in a year, two tops. What good is that? Let's get the right guy in now and build continuity from that.

There's absolutely nothing in the Wolves' history that tells me any new coach will last more than a year or two...it's just not the way we have operated. The fans here become dissatisfied quickly with a coach, and the management team responds by making a change. And I fear we have reacted too quickly again just like we did with Flip, Duane and Kevin in the last decade. There was really nothing wrong with any of their performances, just like there was nothing wrong with this year's 13-win improvement. But the fanbase wanted a change. I'm just tired of starting over every year or two with a new system, and I'm not going to be surprised if we find ourselves in the same position in a year...it's how we roll here.

It's not just here.

It's a league where a COY winner gets canned. A league where a guy gets canned after winning 65% of his games. A league where a guy gets canned with a 30 - 10 record and a #1 seed before the All Star Game.

So if SUCCESSFUL teams churn through coaches, what do you expect from the least successful franchise in modern NBA history?


[Note: I think it's also important to note that Sam Mitchell was never hired to be the Head Coach. He was hired to be an Assistant Coach and only moved up the ladder through sudden and tragic circumstances.]

Hmm...which COY winner getting canned are you referring to...the 2011 one, or the 2007 one?

Many/most former COY candidates get canned at some point in their careers... so it's not news when it happens to one holding an interim head coach title for a 53-loss team nearly a decade later.

I was referring to the coach who won 57 games in 2013 and was fired after the season.

No, I was talking about Sam getting canned after winning 58% of his games in 2007 with a laughable roster. I see that as a similarity for Thibs and Sam. While they both significantly overachieved with the rosters given them in their COY years, they didn't possess the social skills (perhaps "suck up" skills) to get management in their corner. That's how coaches with on-court success get fired.

[AbeVigodaLive]

!

I don't get the stability argument for keeping Sam. Do you really see him as the long term guy? I always saw retaining him as delaying the inevitable. Wolves would be looking for a new coach in a year, two tops. What good is that? Let's get the right guy in now and build continuity from that.

There's absolutely nothing in the Wolves' history that tells me any new coach will last more than a year or two...it's just not the way we have operated. The fans here become dissatisfied quickly with a coach, and the management team responds by making a change. And I fear we have reacted too quickly again just like we did with Flip, Duane and Kevin in the last decade. There was really nothing wrong with any of their performances, just like there was nothing wrong with this year's 13-win improvement. But the fanbase wanted a change. I'm just tired of starting over every year or two with a new system, and I'm not going to be surprised if we find ourselves in the same position in a year...it's how we roll here.

It's not just here.

It's a league where a COY winner gets canned. A league where a guy gets canned after winning 65% of his games. A league where a guy gets canned with a 30 - 10 record and a #1 seed before the All Star Game.

So if SUCCESSFUL teams churn through coaches, what do you expect from the least successful franchise in modern NBA history?


[Note: I think it's also important to note that Sam Mitchell was never hired to be the Head Coach. He was hired to be an Assistant Coach and only moved up the ladder through sudden and tragic circumstances.]

Hmm...which COY winner getting canned are you referring to...the 2011 one, or the 2007 one?

Many/most former COY candidates get canned at some point in their careers... so it's not news when it happens to one holding an interim head coach title for a 53-loss team nearly a decade later.

I was referring to the coach who won 57 games in 2013 and was fired after the season.

No, I was talking about Sam getting canned after winning 58% of his games in 2007 with a laughable roster. I see that as a similarity for Thibs and Sam. While they both significantly overachieved with the rosters given them in their COY years, they didn't possess the social skills (perhaps "suck up" skills) to get management in their corner. That's how coaches with on-court success get fired.

Wait... Mitchell got canned about 18 months after winning the COY. He coached another 99 games for Toronto that MIGHT have had something to do with him being ousted.

Karl won 57 games (70%) and then was canned before coaching another game.

Surely, you can see the difference.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Ever since I was at Villanova 10 years ago and we started rebuilding with young guys, I've wanted us to get Jay Wright. He gets young guys to play balls to the wall and come together as a team. But I never thought it would be possible to get him because guys like that are kings in their world with so much security.

But when the Celtics got Brad Stevens, I started to think it was actually possible. Now Wright is a legend on the main line, so I'm back to thinking I'd be really surprised if we could pry him away. Still, a coach like him would be good for young guys like this.

In general, whatever coach we hire should be given a long leash. We've had WAY too much turnover and the successful coaches are the ones who get the time to build their culture and reputation. I agreed with the Rambis and Wittman firings too, and actually wanted them gone earlier. But otherwise, we've been too quick to fire coaches on this team.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I'd like JVG for POBO, but I'd miss his commentary too much! I love that guy.

[KiwiMatt]

In a perfect world:

POB - JVG
HC - Tommy T
A1 - Smitch
A2 - Saunders Jr
A3 - Adelman Jr or HC choice

Retain current medical and training staff.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ever since I was at Villanova 10 years ago and we started rebuilding with young guys, I've wanted us to get Jay Wright. He gets young guys to play balls to the wall and come together as a team. But I never thought it would be possible to get him because guys like that are kings in their world with so much security.

But when the Celtics got Brad Stevens, I started to think it was actually possible. Now Wright is a legend on the main line, so I'm back to thinking I'd be really surprised if we could pry him away. Still, a coach like him would be good for young guys like this.

In general, whatever coach we hire should be given a long leash. We've had WAY too much turnover and the successful coaches are the ones who get the time to build their culture and reputation. I agreed with the Rambis and Wittman firings too, and actually wanted them gone earlier. But otherwise, we've been too quick to fire coaches on this team.

Well, you must be pretty damn pleased if you are a Villanova alum (and/or a former resident). I live up in Bucks County by the way.

I get the feeling - and I'm hoping - that the perspective that Glen and the search team have is a team on the cusp of a playoff run as opposed to a group of young guys needing further nurturing. Between Flip and Mitchell, it feels like the babysitting is over and it's time to get serious....That with the right draft pick, the right free agent signing, perhaps a trade if necessary, and finally, with the right coach, this is a team that actually could get very competitive, very fast.

I know Jay Wright is now a legend here in Philly, but I have no idea if he's a viable NBA coaching candidate.

[Phenom]

I think that with the news out, it's ok for me to post my opinion on yesterday's developments...and this is strictly my opinion. I'm always open to anything that makes this franchise better, but I don't think firing Mitchell was a good move. What this franchise needs (and has not had since Flip was fired in 2005) is stability, and another coaching change is the opposite of stability. In the next 3-4 months a new coach will be announced, and he will be the 10th head coach in the 11 years since Flip was fired in 2005...I'm fairly certain no other team has a revolving door like that! While I agreed with the Rambis and Wittman dismissals, I thought the other firings (Saunders, McHale. and Casey...I assume Adelman's departure was a mutual agreement) were rather knee-jerk and and had a negative impact on the fortunes of the franchise. I hope that the Mitchell dismissal doesn't backfire like those moves did, and doesn't end up being another setback just as things are starting to look brighter.

The Korn Ferry decision is odd to me. Q is right...they are the gold standard in executive search and I have dealt with them several times. But they specialize in finding high-level business and financial executives. I don't think the collective basketball knowledge within their firm would approach the level of this board, and I'm not really sure what they bring to the table. I sense that it is mostly for show. Glen may still be reeling from his David Kahn choice, and having a search firm involved helps deflect some ciriticism if the choice doesn't work out (see Teague, Norwood)...it's the smart business move as expected from a smart businessman. But the fact of the matter is KF will need a few weeks just to approach the level of suitable contacts Glen already has...in his role of chairman of the ownership group, no owner is more connected than Glen.

So, what does KF do? Although, the press release says they will be involved in a search for both a PBO and a head coach, most of us have a difficult time believing the new PBO isn't going to choose the new coach (with Glen's blessing, of course)...or perhaps be the next coach. So I'm assuming KF will only be involved in the PBO search (although I don't know this for sure) and that the new head coach will be PBO's decision. A sequential process like this takes time, especially when a search firm is involved, and it's probably unlikely that the process will be completed by draft day. A search team needs to justify their exorbitant fees, and will go about this very deliberately. I would expect that they will take 4-6 weeks to assemble and interview a list of suitable candidates, and present Glen with a slate sometime in late May. Then Glen and his co-owners will take some time background checking and interviewing each candidate, and that might take another month. Take a look at the current U of M AD search process to fully appreciate how slowly this might move. My best guess is that the 2016 draft will be conducted by GM Milt Newton...not ideal, but not a disaster either. More importantly, the new PBO will hopefully be on board to play an active role in late summer free agency.

What kind of person will KF be looking for? Well, they were hired by Glen, so I assume they will looking for someone that Glen would like. Ultimately, Sam was fired not for his on-court performance and player development, but because of his prickly personality with the media and fans...just not Glen's style. I would expect they will be looking for a good basketball mind, but more of a congenial, Midwestern personality. Think of a Flip/McHale/Hoiberg type, not a Thibs/JVG type. And that's not all bad...congenial and Midwestern does not necessarily mean non-competitive.

So, while I would have given Sam more time to continue developing these young guys and build on this year's improvement, I'm optimistic about this franchise and hopeful that the new hires move us forward and not backward like previous moves. Our young players have huge upside but need a lot of help in some areas, especially defensively. Hopefully our new coach will continue the development and improvement we saw this year, and increase our win total by 80% like Sam did...I'm sure we would all be happy with 52 wins next year!

I don't get the stability argument for keeping Sam. Do you really see him as the long term guy? I always saw retaining him as delaying the inevitable. Wolves would be looking for a new coach in a year, two tops. What good is that? Let's get the right guy in now and build continuity from that.

There's absolutely nothing in the Wolves' history that tells me any new coach will last more than a year or two...it's just not the way we have operated. The fans here become dissatisfied quickly with a coach, and the management team responds by making a change. And I fear we have reacted too quickly again just like we did with Flip, Duane and Kevin in the last decade. There was really nothing wrong with any of their performances, just like there was nothing wrong with this year's 13-win improvement. But the fanbase wanted a change. I'm just tired of starting over every year or two with a new system, and I'm not going to be surprised if we find ourselves in the same position in a year...it's how we roll here.

I dont think that is a valid reason to stay the course if the guy isn't showing upside. Most of the reported issues he had were probably not going to go away and would have likely boiled over into his firing within 12 to 24 months anyway. I also do not think the fans voice was near as loud for those other 3. Those are on the previous GMs

[TheFuture]

I'd prefer a coach below 50 for starters. I want to see a coach who can grow with this team, just as much as I want to see the players grow with him. Generally, the coaches in the 50s and 60s are on their last platform to get a title win, pushing for specific trades, have their coaching mentality/plays set. Definite no for Van Gundy or Thibodeau for me. Van Gundy has found a more comfortable job position, and I don't want to see another PBO/Coach. Thibodeau would push for the same, and I also don't like how hard he ran his Bulls teams into the floor. They were always gassed come playoff time, and he was so uninventive when it came to the offensive side of the ball. Pair all of those things with his lack of personality with the media and he just doesn't fit here.

This is my pool of candidates for the head coaching position:

Kenny Atkinson
Dave Joerger
Kevin Ollie
Sean Miller
Becky Hammon
Shaka Smart
Sam Cassell
Juwan Howard
Jay Larranaga
Nate Bjorkgren
Adrian Griffin
Tony Bennett
David Vanterpool

I'd be happy with any of these coaches, and would prefer one to become our head coach, and another our assistant. This firm should do its homework and will likely hit on a few of these candidates.

Does anybody here have any good/bad insight on any of the above coaches?