Predictions - How Long?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Interesting stuff, lip...thanks for the inside scoop. It's going to be really interesting if the Wolves make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and triple their win total from the prior year, and the coach gets fired...I would suggest that would be unprecedented in NBA history without an incident of some sort. I'm not surprised that Sam would not be on Flip's list....they're very different in their coaching style. Flip is all about offense, Sam is all about defense. Flip is a player's coach, Sam can be tough on his guys if they aren't going all out. Flip was a master at handling the media and cultivated relationships there, Sam not so much. I'm guessing Flip valued Sam as a defensive assistant coach because he complemented Flip, but didn't see him as a head coach.

As for me, I like Sam as a head coach and see him as an important part of the team's turnaround this year, and would see it as unfair if the team keeps performing and the coach gets fired. But this is a business, and Glen probably recognizes that Sam isn't popular with the typical fan. You go to the games, and I'm sure you see the headshaking and hear the grumbling when Sam does things the masses don't like. That all said, if Glen can find a coach that can take us to even a higher level than Sam can, I'm all in for that.

[TAFKASP]

Interesting stuff, lip...thanks for the inside scoop. It's going to be really interesting if the Wolves make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and triple their win total from the prior year, and the coach gets fired...I would suggest that would be unprecedented in NBA history without an incident of some sort. I'm not surprised that Sam would not be on Flip's list....they're very different in their coaching style. Flip is all about offense, Sam is all about defense. Flip is a player's coach, Sam can be tough on his guys if they aren't going all out. Flip was a master at handling the media and cultivated relationships there, Sam not so much. I'm guessing Flip valued Sam as a defensive assistant coach because he complemented Flip, but didn't see him as a head coach.

As for me, I like Sam as a head coach and see him as an important part of the team's turnaround this year, and would see it as unfair if the team keeps performing and the coach gets fired. But this is a business, and Glen probably recognizes that Sam isn't popular with the typical fan. You go to the games, and I'm sure you see the headshaking and hear the grumbling when Sam does things the masses don't like. That all said, if Glen can find a coach that can take us to even a higher level than Sam can, I'm all in for that.

1. He is an interim coach, to replace him they wouldn't have to fire him, simply don't resign him.
2. Thus far Sam has done a very nice job, but not so nice that I'd turn my nose up to a top tier coach coming in and helping the team make the jump to real contender status.

[Carlos Danger]

LST - I can guarantee nothing, absolutely nothing will get Sam an extension before the end of the season. The word I got from a reliable source is that Sam is likely out after this season unless things go really well this season. Flip had a short list of eventual replacements he discussed with Glen and Sam wasn't on that list. Izzo and Hoiberg were on the list with a few others. Glen really respected Flip. Also, Glen is getting ready to sell the team and he's not going to saddle the new owners with an extension for Sam.

I've read the rumors that Glen is ready to sell too. But those have been going on for years. I'll believe it when I see it. Until then, I see the Country Club taking the path of least resistance. I think Sam would really have to screw up to not get extended. If the current team/core responds to Sam - why would you change? Obviously a lot can happen between now and year end. We'll see. But this has historically been a "Status Quo" kind of ownership.

Because a better, proven, high level coach is available and wants the job?

Yes SP. I've heard those rumors too. Where are those proven, high level coaches and why haven't they been signed up to this point? Adelman stepped down two years ago. I would have been all for signing one of those coaches during that time. But at this point, I would want to stick with what's working (assuming the team continues to perform for Sam).

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Carlos - it's more than a rumor now. Discussions are taking place. I'm certain of that. It's likely Glen sells a 20% ownership stake to the Steve Kaplan group next summer with the intent to sell the rest of Glen's majority stake a year or two later. But Kaplan will have to commit to keeping the team in MN. The practice facility and Target Center renovations are part of getting that commitment.

The Kaplan deal is peculiar to me...I don't quite understand why this is a staged sale and what the business purpose of the 20% sale is. I also read that part of any potential deal is a guarantee that the Wolves stay in Minnesota, but I'm not sure how enforceable that would be from a legal perspective. I think other factors will be more instrumental in ensuring a new owner doesn't move the team, like an unbreakable long-term lease at TC.

I guess the most confusing thing to me about the sale rumors is the timing. I get that the Clippers sale and the new TV contract makes the Wolves very valuable right now ($650 million?), but there is also a history of sports franchises continuing to increase in value with no downturn. Glen is a businessman, but he's also a fan. How many of us would forego winter vacations in warm places if we had a billion dollars just so we could be sitting courtside at 90% of the games? He likes the buzz of being an owner, and so does his young wife. It's odd that after suffering through more than a decade of no playoffs with that smile plastered on his face, he would decide to sell just as things are starting to get good, and we have a young core that is likely to lead to a decade of playoff runs. Can Glen really walk away from that? I don't think he has any cash flow issues, because Taylor Companies is so diversified, he can sell off a subsidiary or two any time he needs the cash. Unless he has some serious illness, I am having a hard time understanding why he wants to sell now.

[Carlos Danger]

Carlos - it's more than a rumor now. Discussions are taking place. I'm certain of that. It's likely Glen sells a 20% ownership stake to the Steve Kaplan group next summer with the intent to sell the rest of Glen's majority stake a year or two later. But Kaplan will have to commit to keeping the team in MN. The practice facility and Target Center renovations are part of getting that commitment.

Lip, I understand. Here is a link to the latest rumor for all to read:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--glen-taylor-in-negotiations-to-sell-minority-stake-in-timberwolves-001644482.html

I think a lot has to be worked out and it's currently just a 20% minority stake. Whether or not they come to terms on full ownership is probably a ways off. We'll see. Glen "looking to sell" is similar to Flip "looking for a replacement coach" in that both things have been repeatedly talked about - but never actually happen.

[TheGrey08]

I still think KG will be a player in this whole situation. 20% to Kaplan doesn't guarantee anything. KG is the key piece for me. If he's involved in a majority stake, there's no way this team will move while he is involved.

[Lipoli390]

Here's the situation.

1. Glen is getting up here in years and none of his children have any interest in owning the team. Yes, Glen's wife enjoys the team, but that won't stop Glen from selling. It was Glen's first wife who loved the Wolves and persuaded him to purchase the team. His current wife doesn't want to own the team. Glen was ready to sell before Flip convinced him to stay on as owner for a while longer. Flip said that publicly. Glen really wants the Wolves to stay in MN as his legacy. So to make sure the team stays, he needs to sell before he passes and he needs to find a buyer willing to commit to keep the team here as part of the deal.

2. KG doesn't have the resources to purchase a majority stake. He would likely be part of the Kaplan ownership group, but as a minority partner.

Taylor selling the team is an absolute certainty. It's just a matter of when and who. Right now, Glen is talking to Kaplan, a guy who has the resources and a guy Glen knows and trusts. It may or may not start with a 20% purchase, and it may ultimately be someone other than Kaplan. But Glen's majority stake in the team will be sold. Not this year, but I'd guess the summer of 2017.

[ShahbazzMuhammad [enjin:15002099]]

I'd love to see the wolves pickup George Karl if Sacramento doesn't work out.....imagine him getting the wolves to play at the pace the kings are....it would be really hard to stop the offense especially with all the athletes...we got....I think my criticism of Mitchell is his rotations seem inconsistent. Personally I think our best starting 5 is Towns, Dieng, Lavine wiggins and rubio,.... Towns isn't a center against teams that have Deandre Jordans and Hassan Whitesides....he is an NBA PF...and I wish they would use him in position

[worldK]

Here's the situation.

1. Glen is getting up here in years and none of his children have any interest in owning the team. Yes, Glen's wife enjoys the team, but that won't stop Glen from selling. It was Glen's first wife who loved the Wolves and persuaded him to purchase the team. His current wife doesn't want to own the team. Glen was ready to sell before Flip convinced him to stay on as owner for a while longer. Flip said that publicly. Glen really wants the Wolves to stay in MN as his legacy. So to make sure the team stays, he needs to sell before he passes and he needs to find a buyer willing to commit to keep the team here as part of the deal.

2. KG doesn't have the resources to purchase a majority stake. He would likely be part of the Kaplan ownership group, but as a minority partner.

Taylor selling the team is an absolute certainty. It's just a matter of when and who. Right now, Glen is talking to Kaplan, a guy who has the resources and a guy Glen knows and trusts. It may or may not start with a 20% purchase, and it may ultimately be someone other than Kaplan. But Glen's majority stake in the team will be sold. Not this year, but I'd guess the summer of 2017.

Lip, you obviously know a lot more than the rest of us. I just have a question. Its almost a guarantee that flip would have purchased the team eventually right? Did he actually have the resources and investors in place already? It seems that his passing away has also eliminate his family from being a possibility at this point. He was a minority owner after all.

[Carlos Danger]

Here's the situation.

1. Glen is getting up here in years and none of his children have any interest in owning the team. Yes, Glen's wife enjoys the team, but that won't stop Glen from selling. It was Glen's first wife who loved the Wolves and persuaded him to purchase the team. His current wife doesn't want to own the team. Glen was ready to sell before Flip convinced him to stay on as owner for a while longer. Flip said that publicly. Glen really wants the Wolves to stay in MN as his legacy. So to make sure the team stays, he needs to sell before he passes and he needs to find a buyer willing to commit to keep the team here as part of the deal.

2. KG doesn't have the resources to purchase a majority stake. He would likely be part of the Kaplan ownership group, but as a minority partner.

Taylor selling the team is an absolute certainty. It's just a matter of when and who. Right now, Glen is talking to Kaplan, a guy who has the resources and a guy Glen knows and trusts. It may or may not start with a 20% purchase, and it may ultimately be someone other than Kaplan. But Glen's majority stake in the team will be sold. Not this year, but I'd guess the summer of 2017.

I don't think so. As I wrote earlier - this stuff has been going on for a while and is all well documented:

Here's Glen getting ready to sell in 2012:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/glen-taylor-looking-sell-minnesota-timberwolves-152557089.html

Here's Glen deciding not to sell in 2013. Note - It doesn't seem like it took much convincing to get him off the idea of selling:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_23165135/timberwolves-glen-taylor-wont-sell-team-hell-buy

Then here's Glen taking offers on the team again in 2014:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12709096/1/timberwolves-receive-bidder-interest.html

And of course there is the latest rumor in 2015:

http://www.startribune.com/wolves-owner-glen-taylor-is-in-discussions-to-sell-the-team/347749651/

Read Taylor's quote in that last piece:

"To me it's not like new news. I haven't signed any papers with anybody yet. I continue to look forward to it. If I can find the right person, I would probably do it."

That's all anyone needs to know about the situation. He's a business guy and a control guy. Of course he'll sell the team if someone wants to pay his price and run the team as he tells them to run it. Unfortunately those type of contingents send serious buyers running the other way. So "yes" he's trying to sell. But what's going on now is no different than what's been going on for the last five years (and probably longer).