What is next?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The biggest factor in determining what happens next is what Glen Taylor does. Lou Nanne hinted last night that he might be interested now in selling the team, but I guess I would deem that unlikely. I had the binoculars on him at halftime of the Bucks game last week, and he looked like a guy who was thoroughly enjoying the whole ownership gig. As was his wife. This is a guy who loves owning a basketball team so much that he shows up for about 85-90% of the games. Think about that. He has enough money to be jetting off to any warm place he wants to during a frigid winter, but instead he is in town and in his customary place next to the Wolves' bench. Plus he is the owner in charge of the ownership club. Glen appears to be in good health and have lots of energy, and is spending less and less time with the Taylor Companies empire he created. I think he needs the ownership of a franchise and all that it brings him, and that he will be around for awhile.

So what does that mean for the Wolves. First of all, forget about any dreams of bringing in an Izzo or a Van Gundy to be both PBO and head coach. Glen has publicly stated that he does not want one person to have both jobs, and was forced into the situation because apparently no suitable coach wanted to come here to coach a team whose star player was threatening to leave. Who knows, Glen might even be experiencing some private guilt, wondering whether Flip's overly-busy schedule wearing both hats was a factor in his inability to battle the cancer/pneumonia he was stricken with. I think there is no chance that he allows that to happen again.

I think respect for Flip will be a cornerstone of the moves Glen will be making or considering. Nanne hinted last night that a new PBO was likely, and I read between the lines that Glen doesn't think Milt is the guy. Flip brought Milt in as his assistant and I don't think ever suggested that Milt was PBO in training, so Glen will feel comfortable bringing in a heavyweight to replace Flip as PBO and leaving Milt in his current role. I have no idea who that will be, and based on Glen's decision just 5 years ago to hire David Kahn, I think we have to worry about who he hires. Let's hope he doesn't screw this one up.

I know I'm in the minority in being a Sam Mitchell supporter here, but I think we need to get used to Sam as coach...and likely for a while. He is both a Glen and a Flip guy, and has been put in a very attractive situation...coaching a team with the past two #1 picks and several other good pieces coming off a 16-win team. The Wolves should double that win total fairly easily, and coaches don't get fired for doubling wins. And since most of us see continued improvement as our young core continues to develop over the next few years, the new PBO will have a difficult time making a case to Glen to fire Mitchell.

So I think we will have Glen and Sam around for awhile, but expect to see a new PBO installed before the end of the year.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Is there a more connected guy in pro sports than Lou Nanne?

The guy seems to know everybody. Or, is he simply able to pull off the persona of a guy who knows everybody on the airwaves?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Is there a more connected guy in pro sports than Lou Nanne?

The guy seems to know everybody. Or, is he simply able to pull off the persona of a guy who knows everybody on the airwaves?

No. Louie knows everybody. He's a world class schmoozer, and that's why he has been successful in business outside of sports. Flip was the kind of guy who would have been successful in anything, I think, because he was every bit as connected as Nanne.

[Coolbreeze44]

The biggest factor in determining what happens next is what Glen Taylor does. Lou Nanne hinted last night that he might be interested now in selling the team, but I guess I would deem that unlikely. I had the binoculars on him at halftime of the Bucks game last week, and he looked like a guy who was thoroughly enjoying the whole ownership gig. As was his wife. This is a guy who loves owning a basketball team so much that he shows up for about 85-90% of the games. Think about that. He has enough money to be jetting off to any warm place he wants to during a frigid winter, but instead he is in town and in his customary place next to the Wolves' bench. Plus he is the owner in charge of the ownership club. Glen appears to be in good health and have lots of energy, and is spending less and less time with the Taylor Companies empire he created. I think he needs the ownership of a franchise and all that it brings him, and that he will be around for awhile.

So what does that mean for the Wolves. First of all, forget about any dreams of bringing in an Izzo or a Van Gundy to be both PBO and head coach. Glen has publicly stated that he does not want one person to have both jobs, and was forced into the situation because apparently no suitable coach wanted to come here to coach a team whose star player was threatening to leave. Who knows, Glen might even be experiencing some private guilt, wondering whether Flip's overly-busy schedule wearing both hats was a factor in his inability to battle the cancer/pneumonia he was stricken with. I think there is no chance that he allows that to happen again.

I think respect for Flip will be a cornerstone of the moves Glen will be making or considering. Nanne hinted last night that a new PBO was likely, and I read between the lines that Glen doesn't think Milt is the guy. Flip brought Milt in as his assistant and I don't think ever suggested that Milt was PBO in training, so Glen will feel comfortable bringing in a heavyweight to replace Flip as PBO and leaving Milt in his current role. I have no idea who that will be, and based on Glen's decision just 5 years ago to hire David Kahn, I think we have to worry about who he hires. Let's hope he doesn't screw this one up.

I know I'm in the minority in being a Sam Mitchell supporter here, but I think we need to get used to Sam as coach...and likely for a while. He is both a Glen and a Flip guy, and has been put in a very attractive situation...coaching a team with the past two #1 picks and several other good pieces coming off a 16-win team. The Wolves should double that win total fairly easily, and coaches don't get fired for doubling wins. And since most of us see continued improvement as our young core continues to develop over the next few years, the new PBO will have a difficult time making a case to Glen to fire Mitchell.

So I think we will have Glen and Sam around for awhile, but expect to see a new PBO installed before the end of the year.

No PBO worth his salt is going to come here unless he can hire his own coach. Unless of course they hire a guy who is a big Mitchell supporter, which I suppose could happen. But very rarely in any sport does a new executive not have the right to assemble his own team.

[60WinTim]

I do believe the team is going to rally together and play this season for Flip. It is Flip's coaching staff. It is Flip's players. He put this thing together. There are no glaring holes.

It seems the players/coaches knew Flip was in a pretty grave state. The timing of all this is just weird. The Wolves play their last preseason game with a very clear direction of how they are going to play. Three days before the season begins Flip passes. No practice yesterday - a day of mourning.

Now they get back together. Have a final tune-up for the season. Head out for a two-game road trip where you know they will have time to bond, reflect, and very likely dedicate this season to Flip. It could make for one heck of story...

[Monster]

I don't see Glen selling the team. KG is here Flip started something I would think Glen would want to stick it out a while before passing the torch. He was just voted chair of the board of governors of the owners although he told Chad Hartman he thought they would vote someone else. If he was looking to sell you would think that wouldn't happen.

Yeah it's rare that a PBO would not be able to select a coach. Let's be real here though anyone considering this job probably knew Flip and probably understands the situation of this franchise is unique and tricky in a large number of ways. Mitchell has a tough job right now as coach and to me it would make sense to at least give him his staff and the players assurance he has a job through the rest of the season. That doesn't even sound very satisfying as it makes him sort of a lame duck coach maybe even more than he was as Iterim Coach. This is just a really tough spot right now.

It seems like a time where the guys that are here can band together and do their thing like Tim has said. How far does that carry them? It would be a good story. Could a new PBO come in with a sympathetic approach that supports the current people in the organization all while in a truly genuine way finding what they can do to become the best franchise? You know who would have been good at at that? Flip Saunders

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I really think the players and coaches need as much stability and certainty as possible so that they can focus on the task at hand. So if I'm Taylor, I pretty much tell Milt and Sam that their roles are "permanent" as far as this season is concerned, but that he will re-evaluate things in the new year and begin a search for a POBO, who ideally would begin the job the day after the season is over. That person in turn would determine the fate of Milt and Sam.

Edit: I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's too damn soon to look at overhauling the front office and coaching staff. We need to give time for the grieving process and we need to give Mitchell a fair shake. I think continuity is the best path forward, at least for this season. Let these guys worry about their jobs next spring.

[60WinTim]

You know, in true "country club" fashion, the Wolves finish out with a successful season (may or may not include playoffs). KG retires, is part of an ownership group that buys a portion, or all, of the team. And KG becomes your new POBO. Mitchell and Milt remain in their roles, and Flip's dream continues.

[Monster]

You know, in true "country club" fashion, the Wolves finish out with a successful season (may or may not include playoffs). KG retires, is part of an ownership group that buys a portion, or all, of the team. And KG becomes your new POBO. Mitchell and Milt remain in their roles.

That's an interesting narrative although I would add that if something like that happens KG will want Billups on board in the front office.

[Coolbreeze44]

You know, in true "country club" fashion, the Wolves finish out with a successful season (may or may not include playoffs). KG retires, is part of an ownership group that buys a portion, or all, of the team. And KG becomes your new POBO. Mitchell and Milt remain in their roles, and Flip's dream continues.

Not a chance. KG is not POBO material or anything close to it. I could see him being part of an ownership group, but he's smart enough to know he needs a seasoned basketball man in charge.