Flip Named Wolves Head Coach

[BloopOracle]

This isn't the logical side of me talking but I REALLY hope we keep Love now this season it would be so entertaining to see almost like an NBA soap opera. We would see legit minutes from Dieng and Shabazz that's a lock, get to watch Love and how he and the fans react to each other, and the only successful coach we've ever had try to put it all together for one last hurrah before everything comes crumbling down. After getting a taste of being at least a mediocre team last season for the first time in many years I am dying to see this instead of the start of another rebuild.

[Phenom]

Cool - the fact that you took that post seriously says more about you than me. KG hasn't even retired yet and who the hell knows where Wally is. It was a joke. I guess I should have thrown in Darko to help the international guys adjust to NBA life just to clarify the joke.

I would also put Darko in charge of handing out bananas to prevent potassium deficiency.

[Monster]

Cool - the fact that you took that post seriously says more about you than me. KG hasn't even retired yet and who the hell knows where Wally is. It was a joke. I guess I should have thrown in Darko to help the international guys adjust to NBA life just to clarify the joke.

I would also put Darko in charge of handing out bananas to prevent potassium deficiency.

I think he should also be in charge of the Hamburgers in the lockeroom.

[TAFKASP]

If you were a quality coach I'm sure the Wolves would be last on your list of teams you want to coach. The history of this team under Taylor has been nothing short of pathetic and given the Love situation and combine that with the hiring of Saunders and you have absolutely no reason to think the future will be any brighter than the past. Outside of one year with KG/Spree/Sam this team has been trash from beginning to end and yet Taylor keeps on going back to the same old same old.

Given Flip is already VPBO and they will either be trading Love by the deadline at the latest or losing him for next to nothing next offseason it makes sense for Flip to coach them through the "bad times" in the hope that they'll put together an attractive team over the next couple off seasons. I don't have any faith they will, but I also doubt they had any better options willing to sign.

[Lipoli390]

What we don't know about this news is much greater than what we do know, so it's difficult to evaluate it at this point. We don't know how Love feels about it. We don't know how long Flip intends to coach. We don't know why this "coach in waiting" doesn't just start in 2014-5. We don't know how many potential coaches turned Flip/Glen down.

But based on the information we currently have, this news disappoints me. Sid Lowe is perhaps my least favorite Wolves' player/coach, and epitomizes mediocrity in my opinion. Flip as a coach doesn't piss me off, but it also doesn't inspire me. I was hoping for more.

But I'm nowhere near the ledge, because I suspect that much more will be revealed in coming weeks. Phenom's suggestion of Blatt being the mystery coach in waiting is really interesting to me. Seems to make a lot of sense to give him a year of NBA experience. I don't know what to think about the Billups rumor, but I think it sounds mostly favorable.

Let's see how this unfolds.

If Flip hires David Blatt as his head coach in waiting that makes it a bit more interesting. But then I say, why didn't he just hire Blatt as head coach. It's not like the guy doesn't have extensive head coaching experience. Further, have we ever seen any organization in pro sports that hired a head coach for the purpose of mentoring a particular successor head coach? The Wolves Organization sends the silly meter spinning out of control.

It's not that I see Flip as a poor choice. It is, as suggested, an uninspiring one and a disappointment. Combining the head executive position with the head coach position is a bad idea to begin with -- especially in this case where we really need a President of Basketball Operations fully engaged and devoted to that position. Moreover, we need a tough, defensive-minded coach and that's not Flip. Further, we need some fresh blood in this organization. Instead we have the old band coming back together with Flip occupying the two most important positions, surrounded by his old buddy Rob Babcock who has been at the center of all the Wolves poor front office decisions and Flip's buddy from Washington. Then it looks like Flip will be bringing in Sidney Lowe and Sam Mitchell as assistants. The whole thing is so small-minded and parochial.

[Lipoli390]

Shocking news! Lip, don't give yourself too much credit, a lot of us saw this coming. You're right LST, we may get more details about Flip's intentions later but I doubt we'll get any "coach in waiting" news this year.

I guess I really only care how well this team performs regardless of coach/trades/picks. I'll hang around as a fan if I see a playoff appearance next year, but anything less and I'll check out.

Bringing the old mediocre band back together, HOOOWWWWLLLLLL!!!!!

LOL. You're right, Lloyd. This wasn't exactly a shocker. But I'm still going to pat myself on the back. I'll just be one of thousands who can do the same. :)

[Lipoli390]

I just wanna see what happens with Love now. I think we're gonna keep him. This move kind of made that clear to me. If Flip planned on trading Love and rebuilding a bit, I'd think that he'd let his coach-in-waiting get his feet wet with experience from the start that way he could develop relationships, trust and fits within his system. That is if the coach-in-waiting isn't still coaching at Iowa State...

But yeah, I think Flip's not gonna trade Love now.

I agree Cam. I think this confirms Flip's intent to keep Love. I'll hope for the best, but I don't see this ending well for the Wolves.

[Lipoli390]

Sidney Lowe can make a great case for the worst head basketball coach of all time.

Honest. Check out his career record in the NBA. Then, check out his college coaching resume. Then, check out how well NC State did immediately before and immediately after Lowe left.

It's alarming. And pretty absurd.

Yes. And if Flip truly intends to bring in Sidney as one of his assistants, what does that say about Flip's intellect?

[Phenom]

I think this confirms that Love is a goner. Flips home run choices to coach, knew this and thus stayed away. I bet Hoiberg and/or Izzo asked him to get back to them next year when there is a clearer picture. Flip is simply bridging a gap. Billups could be the fallback to this and Blatt could be a darkhorse, although he is 55. He doesnt seem to have time enough on his side to be eased into a HC spot.

I was very against Flip coaching but I think this bodes well for Fred coaching in the future so I am ok with it for now.

[Phenom]

Further, have we ever seen any organization in pro sports that hired a head coach for the purpose of mentoring a particular successor head coach? The Wolves Organization sends the silly meter spinning out of control.

Didn't Dallas do that with Nellie and Avery Johnson?