Flip Saunders replaces David Kahn as president of T-Wolves basketball operations

[Sccit]

AP Sources: Kahn out as Wolves president, Flip in

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI (AP Basketball Writer) | The Associated Press – 27 minutes ago

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- David Kahn is out as president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Flip Saunders is coming in.
Kahn confirmed that team owner Glen Taylor has decided not to pick up his contract option for next season. Taylor is also putting the finishing touches on a deal to hire Saunders as Kahn's replacement, according to three people with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because an official announcement has not been made.
Kahn spent four seasons leading the Timberwolves. He helped bring point guard Ricky Rubio and coach Rick Adelman to Minnesota, but his teams went 89-223 and missed the playoffs in all four of his seasons.
''It's always the owner's prerogative,'' Kahn told The AP in a phone conversation on Thursday afternoon. ''I don't think it's appropriate to say whether it's fair or not. I'm very grateful for the opportunity that Glen gave me.''
Saunders, who coached the Wolves from 1995-2005, could have his deal finished as soon as Friday. He led the team to eight playoff appearances as a coach and the Western Conference finals in 2004-05.
Taylor's decision brings an end to a polarizing reign for Kahn. After serving as an executive with the Indiana Pacers, Kahn was a surprise hire in 2009 to replace longtime Timberwolves executive Kevin McHale. Kahn eventually decided not to bring McHale back as head coach, then went about a massive rebuild of a team that was still trying to move on after trading franchise player Kevin Garnett to Boston in 2007.
Kahn tabbed Kurt Rambis to usher in a new identity and style of play, but he lasted just two seasons on the job. With cleaning up the team's salary cap situation a priority in the first season, the Wolves won just 15 games with a collection of retreads and journeymen surrounding Al Jefferson, who was in his first season back from a torn ACL, and Kevin Love, who was in his second season in the league.
Kahn and Rambis clashed repeatedly on the direction of the team and the philosophy on the court. Rambis was fired with a record of 32-132 and Kahn was able to lure Adelman in 2011 to take over a roster that was just starting to take shape. With Rubio emerging as a young dynamo in his rookie season and Love asserting himself as perhaps the best power forward in the game, the Timberwolves were on track to end a long playoff drought until Rubio went down with a torn ACL in March.
Perhaps more damaging, Kahn drew Love's wrath by refusing to give him a maximum five-year extension in January. Love instead signed a four-year deal with an opt-out after three seasons and didn't hide his disappointment. He seethed behind the scenes and publicly about the perceived slight, a grudge that would carry over into this season.
''I think Kevin is on a journey from the individual to the team,'' Kahn said. ''It's a journey that many players have taken in their careers. I've had several positive conversations with Kevin in the last couple of months. I sense that he's making that journey, and he recognizes there are many bumps in the road, and he's making that journey to the team. I'm hopeful he'll arrive safely there. I like him a lot.''
The team tumbled out of the playoff picture, but hopes were high at the start of this season when Kahn added Andrei Kirilenko, Chase Budinger, Alexey Shved and Dante Cunningham to the mix. Then Love broke his hand just before the regular season started and broke it again in January, limiting the Olympian to 18 games for the year. Rubio returned from his knee injury in mid-December but didn't regain his old form until February, Budinger missed more than three months with a knee injury and Kahn's gamble on Brandon Roy proved to be ill-fated. Kirilenko, Nikola Pekovic and JJ Barea also missed stretches because of injuries and the Wolves finished 31-51.
Most of Kahn's biggest missteps came in the draft. He chose Jonny Flynn over Stephen Curry in 2009 with the sixth overall pick, traded a pick that Denver used to take Ty Lawson and chose swingman Wes Johnson fourth overall in 2010. Only two of the 10 draft picks the Timberwolves made in his four years - Rubio and 2011 No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams - are currently on the roster.
''The team has been headed in the right direction and will continue to be headed in the right direction,'' Kahn said. ''I think this team will be a force to be reckoned with for many years. It's young. It's deep. It's talented. It simply needs to become healthy again.''
Going back to Saunders marks a return to the only truly competitive seasons the Timberwolves have had since coming into the NBA. He is the only coach to lead the team to the playoffs, but was fired the season after leading the Wolves to the Western Conference finals. That's the last time the Wolves have been to the postseason, the longest active drought in the NBA.
Saunders also coached in Detroit in Washington and still lives in Minnesota and remained close with Taylor even after a difficult split with the organization.
Saunders' first order of business will be pinning down Adelman's future. Adelman is currently mulling returning or retiring to spend more time with his wife, who suffered from seizures this season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources-kahn-wolves-president-193541618--nba.html




nice move...saunders was there in the glory years.

[Remedy360]

Interesting, my friend is from Minnesota and hates Kahn, dude really has made some horrible personell moves. Not sure about Saunders, though.

[Sccit]

Interesting, my friend is from Minnesota and hates Kahn, dude really has made some horrible personell moves. Not sure about Saunders, though.

apparently, love hates kahn too...looks like they tryna get in his good graces.

[Remedy360]

Interesting, my friend is from Minnesota and hates Kahn, dude really has made some horrible personell moves. Not sure about Saunders, though.

apparently, love hates kahn too...looks like they tryna get in his good graces.

For all the mistakes he's made I actually liked their roster going into the season, injuries really got em though. Gotta give him credit for Rubio, I didn't think dude was gonna amount to shit in the NBA but he looks like a pretty nice player.

[Sccit]

Interesting, my friend is from Minnesota and hates Kahn, dude really has made some horrible personell moves. Not sure about Saunders, though.

apparently, love hates kahn too...looks like they tryna get in his good graces.

For all the mistakes he's made I actually liked their roster going into the season, injuries really got em though. Gotta give him credit for Rubio, I didn't think dude was gonna amount to shit in the NBA but he looks like a pretty nice player.

yea, twolves were on a come up....love goin down this year really did him in

[M Dogg™]

The 'Wolves have a good young roster because for so long they SUCKED. They have had tons of early lotto picks that eventually some will pan out. But lets look at Kahn's history with the draft. He SUCKED.

2009 is too easy, especially now that Steph Curry is killing it. The 'Wolves should have drafted Curry with their #5 or #6 pick. They could have moved Curry to the 2 spot once Rubio came. Also they got KILLED with the Ty Lawson trade. They had Lawson and instead traded him for nothing. With that said, with those three picks, of course one would pan out, and Rubio has.

2010, Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins? Say what you want about Cousins, Johnson ain't even playing for the 'Wolves no more. Wasted pick. Paul George also was on the board at the time.

2011, Derrick Williams, which is actually not a bad pick, but there were better picks. Brandon Knight could move to 2, Jimmer Fredette for 3 point shooting. But Williams will have to be traded because he plays the same position as Kevin Love. I mean, seriously, you drafted a PF when your current young PF is a raising superstar. This was mind blowing!

2012, they traded all their picks away and ended up with Chase Budinger. Okay, thought to be a weak draft, but to just pick another 10ppg player is crazy.

Kahn was a horrible GM, and K-Love did hate him. What made him mad was not going to full 5 years on the contract. Love wanted 5 years, Kahn wanted 4 years with a 3rd year player option. It made no sense, you have a franchise player who you hope will stay with the team long term, and his very young. Yet you sign him for less years and then give him the option to leave. It's like Kahn didn't want Love. That's when Love was like, I got to get out of here. But it looks like he'll give Flip a chance.

[M Dogg™]

A Johnny Flynn team would never lose a lead like Curry's team just did. David Khan is vindicated tonight.

[Sccit]

The 'Wolves have a good young roster because for so long they SUCKED. They have had tons of early lotto picks that eventually some will pan out. But lets look at Kahn's history with the draft. He SUCKED.

2009 is too easy, especially now that Steph Curry is killing it. The 'Wolves should have drafted Curry with their #5 or #6 pick. They could have moved Curry to the 2 spot once Rubio came. Also they got KILLED with the Ty Lawson trade. They had Lawson and instead traded him for nothing. With that said, with those three picks, of course one would pan out, and Rubio has.

rubio was a good pick...flynn over curry wasn't good, but it was not a no-brainer at the time...both players had star potential comin outa college, flynn just ended up floppin.

2010, Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins? Say what you want about Cousins, Johnson ain't even playing for the 'Wolves no more. Wasted pick. Paul George also was on the board at the time.

not mindblowing at all...at the time, wes johnson was thought to be the next all-star swingman and defensive stopper. his potential was endless, and every mock draft had wes going before cousins.

2011, Derrick Williams, which is actually not a bad pick, but there were better picks. Brandon Knight could move to 2, Jimmer Fredette for 3 point shooting. But Williams will have to be traded because he plays the same position as Kevin Love. I mean, seriously, you drafted a PF when your current young PF is a raising superstar. This was mind blowing!

again, not mind-blowing...derrick williams was the consensus number 2 pick and ended up bein a bust in the nba (though he is pickin it up and just had a good year with love out). also signed jj barea, good back-up to rubio

2012, they traded all their picks away and ended up with Chase Budinger. Okay, thought to be a weak draft, but to just pick another 10ppg player is crazy.

chase budinger was a good pick-up. they also got kirilenko, which was their main pick-up, and alexey shved via free agency, who was a star in europe....the roster was ready to make noise before love went out:

pg rubio...jj barea
sg brandon roy...luke ridnour/alexey shved
sf andrei kirilenko...chase budinger/mickael gelabale
pf kevin love...derrick williams.
c nikola pekovic...dante cunningham

that looked like a nice roster goin into the season...injuries derailed em.

Kahn was a horrible GM, and K-Love did hate him. What made him mad was not going to full 5 years on the contract. Love wanted 5 years, Kahn wanted 4 years with a 3rd year player option. It made no sense, you have a franchise player who you hope will stay with the team long term, and his very young. Yet you sign him for less years and then give him the option to leave. It's like Kahn didn't want Love. That's when Love was like, I got to get out of here. But it looks like he'll give Flip a chance.

i think ur mistaking here...it's most likely love who wanted a player option, not kahn. it's never management who ask for a player option- that defies logic and makes absolutely no sense.

[M Dogg™]

The 'Wolves have a good young roster because for so long they SUCKED. They have had tons of early lotto picks that eventually some will pan out. But lets look at Kahn's history with the draft. He SUCKED.

2009 is too easy, especially now that Steph Curry is killing it. The 'Wolves should have drafted Curry with their #5 or #6 pick. They could have moved Curry to the 2 spot once Rubio came. Also they got KILLED with the Ty Lawson trade. They had Lawson and instead traded him for nothing. With that said, with those three picks, of course one would pan out, and Rubio has.

rubio was a good pick...flynn over curry wasn't good, but it was not a no-brainer at the time...both players had star potential comin outa college, flynn just ended up floppin.

2010, Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins? Say what you want about Cousins, Johnson ain't even playing for the 'Wolves no more. Wasted pick. Paul George also was on the board at the time.

not mindblowing at all...at the time, wes johnson was thought to be the next all-star swingman and defensive stopper. his potential was endless, and every mock draft had wes going before cousins.

2011, Derrick Williams, which is actually not a bad pick, but there were better picks. Brandon Knight could move to 2, Jimmer Fredette for 3 point shooting. But Williams will have to be traded because he plays the same position as Kevin Love. I mean, seriously, you drafted a PF when your current young PF is a raising superstar. This was mind blowing!

again, not mind-blowing...derrick williams was the consensus number 2 pick and ended up bein a bust in the nba (though he is pickin it up and just had a good year with love out). also signed jj barea, good back-up to rubio

2012, they traded all their picks away and ended up with Chase Budinger. Okay, thought to be a weak draft, but to just pick another 10ppg player is crazy.

chase budinger was a good pick-up. they also got kirilenko, which was their main pick-up, and alexey shved via free agency, who was a star in europe....the roster was ready to make noise before love went out:

pg rubio...jj barea
sg brandon roy...luke ridnour/alexey shved
sf andrei kirilenko...chase budinger/mickael gelabale
pf kevin love...derrick williams.
c nikola pekovic...dante cunningham

that looked like a nice roster goin into the season...injuries derailed em.

Kahn was a horrible GM, and K-Love did hate him. What made him mad was not going to full 5 years on the contract. Love wanted 5 years, Kahn wanted 4 years with a 3rd year player option. It made no sense, you have a franchise player who you hope will stay with the team long term, and his very young. Yet you sign him for less years and then give him the option to leave. It's like Kahn didn't want Love. That's when Love was like, I got to get out of here. But it looks like he'll give Flip a chance.

i think ur mistaking here...it's most likely love who wanted a player option, not kahn. it's never management who ask for a player option- that defies logic and makes absolutely no sense.

But Love wanted the player option at 4 years, not 3. Love thought Rubio being here would actually help him win, and Rubio was a great pick up. It was his interactions with Kahn that made him want to leave after this summer.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186077-timberwolves-should-strongly-consider-steph-curry-at-no-6

Yeah, Curry was thought to be a reach at 6, after all it was a pretty good draft. All the people who were mentioned above Curry did go before Curry and they all have had good careers. But no where did they mention Johnny Flynn being above Curry. I actually remember people getting excited about Curry to Minnesota, as people here lowered expectations and looked at who would go 5 and 6. Many thought Rubio wouldn't fall to 5, so they thought if someone falls to 5 (Tyreke Evans was who I think people thought would fall) then Curry would go at 6. Well taking Flynn at 6 was an even bigger reach than taking Curry and people who followed the draft were highly upset. No of course many fans didn't know the difference because college ball out here is not ever talked about. But those that did follow the draft were shocked Kahn picked Curry. That was the start of the turning against Kahn, and he was only in the position for a month.

The Cousins pick was truly a no brainier. People were mad the day of the draft. Many, many here wanted Cousins. Not just those that followed the draft. People wanted to take a chance on being good rather than take the safe pick in Johnson. For a whole year the radio had a Johnson watch, basically mocking the pick and comparing him to Cousins every morning. They even made fun of his "smooth" game.

Williams, no one really was mad, just confused because he plays the same position as Love. It's like, you have the #2 overall, and you draft a back up. That was the main complaint. With that said, I'd like Williams on the Lakers.

Chase Budinger is a good player, but they could have gotten something in the lotto, maybe a 15ppg.


With that said, the 'Wolves have had so many lotto picks that they have no chose but to have a nice young roster. It works, but it could have been so much better than it is. Kahn took many lotto picks and turned them into a lottery team. But mismanagement is why many franchises have a hard time getting to be be playoff teams, not just to 'Wolves.

[Sccit]

The 'Wolves have a good young roster because for so long they SUCKED. They have had tons of early lotto picks that eventually some will pan out. But lets look at Kahn's history with the draft. He SUCKED.

2009 is too easy, especially now that Steph Curry is killing it. The 'Wolves should have drafted Curry with their #5 or #6 pick. They could have moved Curry to the 2 spot once Rubio came. Also they got KILLED with the Ty Lawson trade. They had Lawson and instead traded him for nothing. With that said, with those three picks, of course one would pan out, and Rubio has.

rubio was a good pick...flynn over curry wasn't good, but it was not a no-brainer at the time...both players had star potential comin outa college, flynn just ended up floppin.

2010, Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins? Say what you want about Cousins, Johnson ain't even playing for the 'Wolves no more. Wasted pick. Paul George also was on the board at the time.

not mindblowing at all...at the time, wes johnson was thought to be the next all-star swingman and defensive stopper. his potential was endless, and every mock draft had wes going before cousins.

2011, Derrick Williams, which is actually not a bad pick, but there were better picks. Brandon Knight could move to 2, Jimmer Fredette for 3 point shooting. But Williams will have to be traded because he plays the same position as Kevin Love. I mean, seriously, you drafted a PF when your current young PF is a raising superstar. This was mind blowing!

again, not mind-blowing...derrick williams was the consensus number 2 pick and ended up bein a bust in the nba (though he is pickin it up and just had a good year with love out). also signed jj barea, good back-up to rubio

2012, they traded all their picks away and ended up with Chase Budinger. Okay, thought to be a weak draft, but to just pick another 10ppg player is crazy.

chase budinger was a good pick-up. they also got kirilenko, which was their main pick-up, and alexey shved via free agency, who was a star in europe....the roster was ready to make noise before love went out:

pg rubio...jj barea
sg brandon roy...luke ridnour/alexey shved
sf andrei kirilenko...chase budinger/mickael gelabale
pf kevin love...derrick williams.
c nikola pekovic...dante cunningham

that looked like a nice roster goin into the season...injuries derailed em.

Kahn was a horrible GM, and K-Love did hate him. What made him mad was not going to full 5 years on the contract. Love wanted 5 years, Kahn wanted 4 years with a 3rd year player option. It made no sense, you have a franchise player who you hope will stay with the team long term, and his very young. Yet you sign him for less years and then give him the option to leave. It's like Kahn didn't want Love. That's when Love was like, I got to get out of here. But it looks like he'll give Flip a chance.

i think ur mistaking here...it's most likely love who wanted a player option, not kahn. it's never management who ask for a player option- that defies logic and makes absolutely no sense.

But Love wanted the player option at 4 years, not 3. Love thought Rubio being here would actually help him win, and Rubio was a great pick up. It was his interactions with Kahn that made him want to leave after this summer.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186077-timberwolves-should-strongly-consider-steph-curry-at-no-6

Yeah, Curry was thought to be a reach at 6, after all it was a pretty good draft. All the people who were mentioned above Curry did go before Curry and they all have had good careers. But no where did they mention Johnny Flynn being above Curry. I actually remember people getting excited about Curry to Minnesota, as people here lowered expectations and looked at who would go 5 and 6. Many thought Rubio wouldn't fall to 5, so they thought if someone falls to 5 (Tyreke Evans was who I think people thought would fall) then Curry would go at 6. Well taking Flynn at 6 was an even bigger reach than taking Curry and people who followed the draft were highly upset. No of course many fans didn't know the difference because college ball out here is not ever talked about. But those that did follow the draft were shocked Kahn picked Curry. That was the start of the turning against Kahn, and he was only in the position for a month.

The Cousins pick was truly a no brainier. People were mad the day of the draft. Many, many here wanted Cousins. Not just those that followed the draft. People wanted to take a chance on being good rather than take the safe pick in Johnson. For a whole year the radio had a Johnson watch, basically mocking the pick and comparing him to Cousins every morning. They even made fun of his "smooth" game.

Williams, no one really was mad, just confused because he plays the same position as Love. It's like, you have the #2 overall, and you draft a back up. That was the main complaint. With that said, I'd like Williams on the Lakers.

Chase Budinger is a good player, but they could have gotten something in the lotto, maybe a 15ppg.


With that said, the 'Wolves have had so many lotto picks that they have no chose but to have a nice young roster. It works, but it could have been so much better than it is. Kahn took many lotto picks and turned them into a lottery team. But mismanagement is why many franchises have a hard time getting to be be playoff teams, not just to 'Wolves.

read the article...it even said steph curry at 6 was considered a reach at the time...as for jonny flynn, check these mock drafts

http://www.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft

http://www.mynbadraft.com/2009-NBA-Mock-Draft

http://www.sportscity.com/nba/mock-draft/2009-nba-mock-draft/


as u can see, others had flynn above curry, and rubio was picked above curry in every single scenario.



as for wes over cousins, EVERY mock draft had that as well

http://walterfootball.com/nbadraft2010mock.php

http://www.nbadraft.net/2010mock_draft

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/05/18/consensus.mock/index.html

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-lotterymockdraft051810

http://www.mynbadraft.com/2010-NBA-Mock-Draft


first 5 picks were actually consensus across the board in 2010...

2011, like i said, was considered a no-brainer, cuz derrick williams was regarded as a potential superstar and hands-down the best player available. it was also believed by many that he could play small forward (which has since been proven wrong)...but it's not Kahn's fault he didnt end up living to the hype.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/700602-2011-nba-mock-draft-definitive-full-two-round-post-draft-lottery-order-edition/page/3

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-03/2011-nba-draft/story/nba-draft-2011-mock-draft

basically, ur shitting on Kahn because ur looking at shit in retrospect, when the moves he made were considered very standard and acceptable at the time. u can do that with almost any organization...the problem with Kahn is that he couldnt buy over Love, not that he made wrong personnel moves. and i still dont know about that player option shit, sounds to me like ur making one of ur infamous misinformation claims, cuz i dont see how any franchise wouldnt wanna lock up Love for as long as possible. if it's true that Kahn was the one who suggested giving Love a player option on his last year against Love's will, please post up an article or some proof of that, because thats a pretty bold claim that makes no sense and i cant find nothin about it.

[M Dogg™]

Oh, I'm shitting on Kahn because I live here and I laughed at my 'Wolves fan friends after every draft.

You also have to know that the mocks take into consideration the GM and their tendency for the draft. Mock drafts don't rank the best player, they look at who they think the GM will draft. So basically they listen to their sources in the franchise and they look at who they feel that team will pick.

I ain't blaming him for the Williams pick, but I am getting on him for the Curry pick, and the Johnson/Cousins pick. Cousins was only lower than Johnson because of character issues, but everyone agreed Cousins was the better player.


As for looking in retrospect. You should live in a market with losing teams. (I forgot about the Dodgers) When you follow a franchise make bad move after bad move after bad movie, it starts to become like a bad movie. You know, not just a bad movie, but a really bad movie. One of those movies you see at 2am well drunk on a Friday night, it's so bad that you just have to watch. I am actually kind of sad Kahn got fired because that's what it was like. It was amazing! It was almost as entertaining as watching the Lakers win, almost.

As I said, you use a #2 overall for a backup hoping they can play the 3 spot and start. Also at that time they had Michael Beasley who they were trying to get rid of.

Then again, maybe the biggest problem with the 'Wolves is they had bad player development. All this talent and they flushed it down the toilet. Player development also falls under the GM.

[Sccit]

I'm still curious about Kahn wanting a player option over a guaranteed year.

[M Dogg™]

I'm still curious about Kahn wanting a player option over a guaranteed year.

From David Kahn's mouth:

I think Kevin really had his heart set on a fifth year. I think his friendship with Russell Westbrook (who signed a five-year deal with OKC) made it difficult to accept, but that's why I also prevailed upon Glen that we should relent and give him a third-year option so he felt like he was winning something too.

[Sccit]

I'm still curious about Kahn wanting a player option over a guaranteed year.

From David Kahn's mouth:

I think Kevin really had his heart set on a fifth year. I think his friendship with Russell Westbrook (who signed a five-year deal with OKC) made it difficult to accept, but that's why I also prevailed upon Glen that we should relent and give him a third-year option so he felt like he was winning something too.

wow...kahn really is an idiot. i dont blame him for the draft choices, but thats just retarded.

[M Dogg™]

I'm still curious about Kahn wanting a player option over a guaranteed year.

From David Kahn's mouth:

I think Kevin really had his heart set on a fifth year. I think his friendship with Russell Westbrook (who signed a five-year deal with OKC) made it difficult to accept, but that's why I also prevailed upon Glen that we should relent and give him a third-year option so he felt like he was winning something too.

wow...kahn really is an idiot. i dont blame him for the draft choices, but thats just retarded.

If you actually follow any team outside of the Lakers, you'll realize how bad other teams are ran. Man, being a Laker fan since birth, i was spoiled... no wonder other fans hate the Lakers. Still, I love wearing my purple and gold. I'm just worried my Gasol jersey wouldn't be good after this year.