Minnesota Sports Forum

This really sucks we all really wanted Joerger. I think the reality is we do not know what really went down here and I doubt we will ever know. I am frustrated too but let's have some perspective. 10 days ago or so we had no idea Joerger would be an option and the Wolves made a run at a good young coach and came up empty. How exactly does this make the organization look so foolish? While this whole thing transpired there have been no coaches hired so its not like we missed out on anything. Let's wait to see how things play out.

Much conjecture here about what happened this weekend, and a lot of premature blaming of Flip and Glen. I get that. We're all disappointed about what we thought was a sure thing slipping away, and worried about who the next coach is going to be.

But after reading about all the drama, it all makes sense to me, and I don't find anyone to blame. We don't know what Joerger was thinking, but here's how I see it. Joerger is happy in Memphis and dug in after spending 7 years there. And he has a talented roster which is only going to get better when they add an offensive SG with the 22nd pick this year. But he was (and probably still is) worried about the volatility of the team's goofy owner, and asked for permission to talk to his home state team who was looking for a coach. He didn't see it as a great opportunity with the pending departure of the Wolves' star player, but he needed to keep his options open given Pera's tendency to impulsively fire personnel. But when Pera decided to eat some crow and to make Joerger feel wanted again (and likely sweetened his contract), Joerger made the smart choice and stayed in Memphis.

Think about this from Joerger's perspective. He's a young coach who wants to coach for another 20+ years, and how he builds his resume in his early years will determine his opportunities down the line. He won 50 games in Memphis this year despite not having Gasol for several games, and probably thinks 55-60 wins is doable this year. On the other hand, coaching a Love-less Wolves team would be much more challenging, and adding a sub-.500 season or two to his early coaching resume would hurt him in the long run. He had to interview here to keep his options open, but when Pera changed his public tone, the smart move for Joerger was to stay in Memphis. Flip and Glen were powerless in this drama once Pera decided he wanted Joerger to stay.

So now, my hopes are on David Blatt. All he does year in and year out is win with rosters that are decidedly less talented than its competition. We all know about his 5-1 record and bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics with a team that featured Alexey Shved as its most productive player. And this month he coached heavy underdog Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Euroleague championship. Maccabi did not have a talented roster and was not expected to even get by the quarterfinals, but ultimately prevailed over the much more highly regarded CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid. To put this in NBA perspective, this is the equivalent of say a Chicago Bulls winning the NBA championship this year.

We don't know that Blatt is on Flip's radar, but we do know that he has said recently that he wants an NBA job. He's an east coast guy, and there have been rumors linking him to the Knicks, but I have to believe we can get him if we move quickly. Come on, Flip. Turn this lemon weekend into lemonade!

monsterpile wrote:This really sucks we all really wanted Joerger. I think the reality is we do not know what really went down here and I doubt we will ever know. I am frustrated too but let's have some perspective. 10 days ago or so we had no idea Joerger would be an option and the Wolves made a run at a good young coach and came up empty. How exactly does this make the organization look so foolish? While this whole thing transpired there have been no coaches hired so its not like we missed out on anything. Let's wait to see how things play out.

If Joerger wasn't from Minnesota, would we have even considered him?

longstrangetrip wrote:

We don't know that Blatt is on Flip's radar, but we do know that he has said recently that he wants an NBA job. He's an east coast guy, and there have been rumors linking him to the Knicks, but I have to believe we can get him if we move quickly. Come on, Flip. Turn this lemon weekend into lemonade!

According to Doogie we're not looking at Blatt either.

Not looking at Blatt??!! Just another example of an amateurish small-minded organization. Looks like it's going to be Sam Mitchell and that, in my view, would be a pathetic outcome. I'd much rather have Flip coach this team given his long-term track record of success as an NBA head coach.

lipoli390 wrote:Not looking at Blatt??!! Just another example of an amateurish small-minded organization. Looks like it's going to be Sam Mitchell and that, in my view, would be a pathetic outcome. I'd much rather have Flip coach this team given his long-term track record of success as an NBA head coach.

It sounds like a stupid joke but it's been true! If you don't have Minnesota ties or are friends with management, you won' be considered. Heaven forbid the wolves should have to look outside this super successful franchise for once. Seriously, has Mitchell been a serious candidate anywhere since he left the Raptors?

alexftbl8181 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Not looking at Blatt??!! Just another example of an amateurish small-minded organization. Looks like it's going to be Sam Mitchell and that, in my view, would be a pathetic outcome. I'd much rather have Flip coach this team given his long-term track record of success as an NBA head coach.

It sounds like a stupid joke but it's been true! If you don't have Minnesota ties or are friends with management, you won' be considered. Heaven forbid the wolves should have to look outside this super successful franchise for once. Seriously, has Mitchell been a serious candidate anywhere since he left the Raptors?

I agree that Taylor's familiarity and admiration for Mitchell is the primary reason he is being considered, but I'm not sure why that is a bad thing. Glen is obviously going to be more comfortable with someone whose character he knows well, and to me that makes a lot of sense.

I'm always puzzled by the perception on this board that Glen will only consider coaching candidates who are in the "country club". The reality of the situation is that the last two Timberwolves coaches (Rambis and Adelman) have been outsiders, and neither of them worked out too well. I can see why Glen might be more inclined to go with someone he knows this time.

Im with the guys that dont want sam mitchell. His more famous moments as coach includes being body slammed by vince carter on the trainers table after getting physical with him. Feuding with his point guard(rafer) and management. As someone else pointed out, he was re assigned as scout by the nets after being hired as lead assistant.

Glen likes him though and he played for us so that gives him an in for glen. I joined others in wanting flip to coach instead of mitchell.

There were reports that we had interviewed scoot skiles already? He would be my choice unless hoiberg change his mind.

longstrangetrip wrote:

alexftbl8181 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Not looking at Blatt??!! Just another example of an amateurish small-minded organization. Looks like it's going to be Sam Mitchell and that, in my view, would be a pathetic outcome. I'd much rather have Flip coach this team given his long-term track record of success as an NBA head coach.

It sounds like a stupid joke but it's been true! If you don't have Minnesota ties or are friends with management, you won' be considered. Heaven forbid the wolves should have to look outside this super successful franchise for once. Seriously, has Mitchell been a serious candidate anywhere since he left the Raptors?

I agree that Taylor's familiarity and admiration for Mitchell is the primary reason he is being considered, but I'm not sure why that is a bad thing. Glen is obviously going to be more comfortable with someone whose character he knows well, and to me that makes a lot of sense.

I'm always puzzled by the perception on this board that Glen will only consider coaching candidates who are in the "country club". The reality of the situation is that the last two Timberwolves coaches (Rambis and Adelman) have been outsiders, and neither of them worked out too well. I can see why Glen might be more inclined to go with someone he knows this time.

I don't get it either plenty of other guys outside the country club have been reported to be contacted and I wouldn't be surprised if more guys than what we heard about have received a call from the Wolves.

Among the candidates known or believed to want a NBA head coaching position who haven't been hired by any other team yet, here are my top candidates for the Wolves position in order of preference:

1. Fred Hoiberg
2. Billy Donovan
3. Bill Blatt
4. Mark Jackson
5. Scott Skiles
6. Lionel Hollins
7. George Karl
8. flip Saunders

I have zero interest in Byone not on this list.