Flip's Agenda - #1. New Coach

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

"@ESPNSteinLine 24s
Posting now on ESPN: Vinny Del Negro has emerged as a serious candidate for Wolves job. Story on way momentarily"

Not sure how I feel about this.

I know how I feel...no thank you. Del Negro is a classic example of a coach whose teams improve after he leaves. Here's my order of preference for guys I think could be interested in coaching here:

1) David Blatt
2) Fred Hoiberg
3) Sam Mitchell
4) Flip Saunders
5) Lionel Hollins
6) Myself
7) Vinny Del Negro
8) George Karl
9) Mark Jackson

My consideration of Flip is contingent upon him taking a year to year contract...i.e, a stopgap until the Love situation is resolved.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Woj: Del Negro's candidacy isn't so much about selling K-Love, as it's developing Ricky Rubio, sources say. He had Rose and Paul in CHI and LA.

Two things.

1) I didn't realize Del Negro had a lot to do with CP3 and Rose's success. Here I was thinking they were just extremely talented players that didn't need much grooming... (Sarcasm)

2) "isn't so much about selling K-Love" -- Well no shit. This hire wouldn't do anything to keep him. Also, the way that's worded makes me think Flip is already looking post-Love era. Draft day trade coming?

[thedoper]

"@ESPNSteinLine 24s
Posting now on ESPN: Vinny Del Negro has emerged as a serious candidate for Wolves job. Story on way momentarily"

Not sure how I feel about this.

I know how I feel...no thank you. Del Negro is a classic example of a coach whose teams improve after he leaves. Here's my order of preference for guys I think could be interested in coaching here:

1) David Blatt
2) Fred Hoiberg
3) Sam Mitchell
4) Flip Saunders
5) Lionel Hollins
6) Myself
7) Vinny Del Negro
8) George Karl
9) Mark Jackson

My consideration of Flip is contingent upon him taking a year to year contract...i.e, a stopgap until the Love situation is resolved.

I be more excited about you too LST, as long as you were posting during games.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

1. Hoiberg
2. Hollins
3. Jackson
4. Karl
5. Cassell/Billups
6. Engelland
7. Flip
8. Myself
9. Mitchell
10. Del Negro

[AbeVigodaLive]

I would be extremely unhappy with Del Negro. Yikes.

But at least it would give the Wolves 6 defenders on the court at all times. His sideline antics are amusing when they aren't so sad.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

George Karl just turned 63 -- 4 years younger than Adelman. But Cam's point is the more important one. George still has a fire in his belly to coach. Keep in mind that Flip is 59 and will turn 60 in the middle of next season. So if Flip ends up appointing himself, it won't be much different from an age perspective than hiring Karl. Hollins is 60.

If we want a younger head coach, Flip should do everything he can to sign Mark Jackson, Bill Blatt, Fred Hoiberg or Byron Scott. I am certain that Fred is gettable.

Lip, I'm totally on board with Blatt and Hoiberg, and I'm intrigued with your certainty that we could get Fred. I have said the same thing on this board many times, but the prevailing board opinion is that it would be almost impossible to pry him away from Ames. Your language makes me wonder if you know something about Fred's intentions. Any inside dope you can provide here, or is this just opinion (like mine)? I want to keep the Hoiberg dream alive, but it seems to me that Glen would really be pushing for the Mayor if he thought he could get him.

Long -- I actually do have some insight into what Fred would like to do. He loves Ames and likes coaching the Cyclones. But I can say with certainty that he definitely wants to be a head coach in the NBA and doesn't care for the recruiting part of his job. I can also say with certainty that he and Glen Taylor are close. Finally, I can also say with certainty that the main reason he left the Wolves for the position with Iowa State was Davis Kahn. Fred couldn't stand Kahn and hated working for him. But he hated to leave Minneapolis. His parents have a cabin in Minnesota and spend a lot of time there. That's all I know for sure. I did hear from someone in the organization months ago that he expected Hoiberg to be our next head coach. But I wouldn't take that to the bank. Putting it all together I'd say Fred is still a potential candidate.

Thanks for the inside scoop, lip. It jives with my thinking, but as I said, mine was just an opinion. If Fred is ready to go, I would be disappointed if Flip wasn't talking to him. Also, based on Glen's fondness for him, I wonder why he isn't ordering Flip to talk to him. It may be that Flip is stuck on hiring someone with NBA coaching experience.

The differences in Cam's and my preference list shows what a tough task selecting a coach is. They need to find someone who the fan base will support, and it's interesting to me that Freddy is the only common pick on our two lists. He also might be the only candidate with almost universal support on this board, and our population represents a pretty good cross section of informed Wolves' fans.

I still have Blatt as my first choice, but the Mayor may be the best choice that Flip can make.

[BloopOracle]

I can't believe it has come to the point where I am actively hoping Flip comes down and coaches

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

All this talk of Flip being the interim guy until the Love situation is resolved is ridiculous. Get it solved now. Aren't you guys running out of patience with this franchise? Make a decision Flip. Find the best coach available. Tell everyone you're willing to trade Love. Get the best deal you can before the draft.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

"@ESPNSteinLine 24s
Posting now on ESPN: Vinny Del Negro has emerged as a serious candidate for Wolves job. Story on way momentarily"

Not sure how I feel about this.

I know how I feel...no thank you. Del Negro is a classic example of a coach whose teams improve after he leaves. Here's my order of preference for guys I think could be interested in coaching here:

1) David Blatt
2) Fred Hoiberg
3) Sam Mitchell
4) Flip Saunders
5) Lionel Hollins
6) Myself
7) Vinny Del Negro
8) George Karl
9) Mark Jackson

My consideration of Flip is contingent upon him taking a year to year contract...i.e, a stopgap until the Love situation is resolved.

I be more excited about you too LST, as long as you were posting during games.

Thanks for the support, doper. One potential problem with the in-game posting. I know I could still be more involved than Rick Adelman, but do you think Glen would notice? He'd be kinda right next to me.

[thedoper]

"@ESPNSteinLine 24s
Posting now on ESPN: Vinny Del Negro has emerged as a serious candidate for Wolves job. Story on way momentarily"

Not sure how I feel about this.

I know how I feel...no thank you. Del Negro is a classic example of a coach whose teams improve after he leaves. Here's my order of preference for guys I think could be interested in coaching here:

1) David Blatt
2) Fred Hoiberg
3) Sam Mitchell
4) Flip Saunders
5) Lionel Hollins
6) Myself
7) Vinny Del Negro
8) George Karl
9) Mark Jackson

My consideration of Flip is contingent upon him taking a year to year contract...i.e, a stopgap until the Love situation is resolved.

I be more excited about you too LST, as long as you were posting during games.

Thanks for the support, doper. One potential problem with the in-game posting. I know I could still be more involved than Rick Adelman, but do you think Glen would notice? He'd be kinda right next to me.

Has Glen noticed anything since he has been owner? He makes me question everything I ever assumed about the keys to business success.