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Over the past several seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves have plodded along—struggling to increase their win total from year to year, hoping to work themselves back into a competitive playoff team.
On May 3, Minnesota made a move that will hopefully enable the team to do just that. Welcome Flip Saunders as the new President of Basketball Operations[1]. Saunders replaces former president David Kahn, who often found himself heavily criticized by both the fan base and his players[2]. In December 2012, All-Star forward Kevin Love said the following about Kahn:
“You walk into the locker room every year, and it’s completely turned over. There [are] new guys everywhere. And then it happens again and again. You start to wonder: Is there really a plan here? Is there really any kind of a […] plan?”
Kahn spewed a lot of talk, but his transactions and trade moves within the league never lived up to his so-called “vision” behind the team. Kahn’s vision lacked any practical blueprint; the only case that ever truly paid off beneath his regime was Ricky Rubio.
And, while Kahn’s work with Rubio certainly deserves some level of recognition, his inability to connect with fans, his team, and even the front office ultimately saw him out of a position.
On the flip side, however (yes—pun intended), fans and team members alike seem entirely positive about Saunders’ return to Minnesota.
Saunders coached the Wolves from 1995-2005, and the decade proved the franchise’s most successful run. During that stint, Minnesota appeared in eight straight playoffs and, in 2004, made a run to the Western Conference Finals.
Flip Saunders coached KG to the W. Conference Finals. (photo credit: yahoo sports)
Jeff Munneke, VP of Fan Relations at the MN Timberwolves and Lynx, emphasizes the optimistic response from fans. “Ultimately, it just makes people feel good that there’s someone in the seat—calling the shots, working, and building their team—that they trust,” Munneke said. [3]
Owner Glen Taylor seems confident, as well: “Flip is one of the more experienced and creative minds in basketball. He knows what it takes to win in the NBA and we are confident that he will do what is necessary to [return us to] our best days as an organization.”
Since returning to Minnesota, Saunders has wasted no time making moves and proving his level of commitment to succeeding with this team.
On June 27, Saunders utilized his new position in the 2013 NBA Draft. Saunders and Co. had their eyes set mainly on shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from Georgia; when KCP went to Detroit directly before the T’Wolves’ pick, they found themselves scrambling for Plan B.
With the No. 9 pick, Minnesota drafted Trey Burke, seemingly adding another point guard to their already laden roster. Before long, fans realized Saunders’ plan was not to keep Burke, but rather to trade him to Utah for two additional picks. Using Utah’s 14th pick, Saunders took a chance on shooting guard Shabbaz Muhammed[4].
Many fans expressed uneasiness with Minnesota’s pick, as Muhammed holds a reputation of being a lazy ballplayer without much experience. Muhammed’s integrity was also called into question when it surfaced that he and his family had lied about his age[5].
Issues aside, however, the 21-year-old is a scorer. While likely not coming in as a starter, if Muhammed can transition well into Minny and work hard beneath Adelman’s direction, he could hold a lot of potential for the Wolves.
Next, Saunders drafted center Gorgui Dieng [6]at No. 21. Dieng also looks to be a bench player to start, but he’s a solid center with defensive skills sometimes lacking from Minnesota’s big men.
The Wolves may not have come away from Draft Night with super stars per se, but they did work effectively with “Plan B” to fill in some gaps in the lineup.
(photo credit: Star Tribune)
Unlike Kahn, Saunders works to maintain a transparent relationship with his team and with his fans. Rather than hiding behind certain decisions, the GM addressed obvious concerns immediately. Saunders took to Twitter[7], posting the following after the Draft:
“I know many #twolves are disappointed. We will be ok and time will show that [our] picks will produce. They are physically ready. I own up to [them].”
“I’m excited about it because we’re filling a lot of holes,” Saunders said in an interview[8]. “We needed someone to protect the rim—Gorgui will be able to do that. We were very low on scoring from our 2s and 3s—Shabazz is going to help out on that.”
No GM has ever made 100% of his fans happy, and Saunders is no exception. However, he does stand behind each and every decision he makes. In general, fans don’t seem to mind picks or signings they don’t agree with, as long as they can be explained. And Saunders is doing that.
Not only is Saunders assuring Minnesota’s fan base, he is also rebuilding a level of respect for the Timberwolves across the league itself.
Joan Niesen, NBA writer for FOX Sports in Los Angeles, reflected on the reputation change—for the better—with the transition from Kahn to Saunders.
“[Kahn was somewhat of a laughing-stock in the league,” commented Niesen[9]. “I can’t count the amount of times I’ve told someone I covered the Timberwolves, and the first thing they did was laugh about Kahn. To go from him to a guy who has coaching experience, a great reputation and a sharp basketball mind is a huge step in the right direction.”
If Saunders has made one thing clear, it’s this: he does not mess around. Since draft night, the new GM has made several deliberate moves to improve the outlook for this team.
One major hole in the T’Wolves lineup is at shooting guard, and Muhammed will not be ready to fill that gap for at least a few seasons. Instead, this is a problem Saunders addressed via free agency.
Minnesota originally held stronger interest in J.J. Redick, but when the SG joined the Clippers instead, Saunders and Co. re-signed Chase Budinger [10] in a three-year, $16-million deal with an opt-out option available. Last season, Budinger overcame an injury and averaged just under 10 points a game for the Wolves. Minnesota is the second city in which Budinger has played for head coach Rick Adelman, and he apparently turned down a larger offer from elsewhere in order to stay in the Twin Cities.
“We definitely should be a playoff team,” Budinger said. “We’re going to be an exciting team to watch […]”We added the necessary shooting this year. I think with the way Rick Adelman’s system is, and the people we have, it will be tough for teams to guard us.”
Saunders told Budinger from the start that he wanted to re-sign him, and Budinger appreciated the positive communication from the GM.
Some fans may think Budinger is overpaid even at $16 million, but Saunders has a plan for everything. He proved a huge asset last season—even after being sidelined for a majority of the year. Budinger will return for the 2013-14 season even more prepared for the solid defense and strong perimeter game that he’s known for. The Wolves need a dependable three-point shooter, and Budinger is that guy.
(photo credit: twincities.com)
In addition to re-signing Budinger, Saunders inked a four-year, $28-million deal with veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin[11]. The No. 1 perk attached to Martin? His past camaraderie with both Adelman and Budinger during his time with Houston.
“The first thing [Martin] said to me was, ‘Come on, Chase, you know I wasn’t going to come anywhere else other than Minnesota,’ ” Budinger commented. “The thing about Kevin is he likes to be comfortable, and when he’s comfortable, that’s when he’s at his best. And that’s going to be what he gets with Rick Adelman.”
Martin’s playing style may be a bit awkward, but the SG is incredibly familiar with Adelman’s system and should fit in well with the Wolves’ current lineup.
“We are excited to add a talented veteran in Kevin Martin to our team,” Saunders said. “Kevin is one of the top shooters and more efficient scorers in the NBA, [and he] will help us immensely in those areas.”
While Martin admittedly lacks on the defensive side of the ball, he is a brilliant 3rd option. Under Adelman’s system, Martin will thrive.
In addition to new faces, Minnesota is parting ways with a few players, as well.
To many Timberwolves’ fans dismay and the surprise of NBA fans across the country, veteran forward Andrei Kirilenko took a $7-milllion pay cut when he left Minnesota to join the Nets. Kirilenko’s final year with the Wolves would have been worth $10 million, but he is joining Brooklyn for a $3.2 million paycheck.
The Nets have done some serious offseason work[12], creating a starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Brook Lopez. Kirilenko may see a more successful season with the Nets. In addition, the Russian native has ties to Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, having played for CSKA Moscow (1998-2001), which was formerly owned by Prokhorov.
Why does the NBA sit by calmly and watch Prokhorov make the extravagant moves he’s been making with a team, especially when it comes to Kirilenko? To see a player leave Minnesota’s growing market and comfortable paycheck to play in Brooklyn seems evident of a bribe situation, and you can bet Saunders is thinking just that.
In any case, what’s done is done. It’s all a business, and Saunders refuses to allow the loss of Kirilenko to disrupt his plan for this team.
As an answer to Kirilenko’s walk-off, Saunders has the confidence (ahem, courage) to bring Corey Brewer back into the fold at a three-year contract worth $15 million. Loyal Timberwolves fans will certainly remember Brewer’s last stint with Minnesota, and I imagine feelings toward this transaction will be all over the board.
Let’s take a minute, though, to observe Saunders’ way of thinking. Remember, this guy is smart. He’s intentional. And he wants Brewer on this team.
Brewer has never been—and won’t start now—being known for his shooting ability. However, he did step up his offensive game following his debut in Minnesota. Last season with Denver, he averaged 12.1 points in 24.4 minutes per game. But most importantly, Saunders didn’t bring him in to score. The Wolves badly needed a reliable defender on the wing, and his athletic ability to run the fast break with fancy-passing point guard Ricky Rubio cemented him as the right fit to replace the departed Andrei Kirilenko.
A player’s performance can be hindered or empowered based on the expectations placed on him, and Saunders realizes this. He certainly plans on Brewer being an integral part of the team, but he’ll most likely be an integral part of the off-the-bench action.
“It’s always different when you come in with the expectations of a top-10 pick and you’re counted on to carry a team,” explained Saunders. “[Corey’s] not going to have to carry this team.”
(photo credit: espn.com)
Brewer adds electricity to the floor, and his vitality is incredible. No other Wolf since KG has played with such righteous fire–not to mention had anywhere near the success guarding the League’s really dynamic perimeter scorers.
In the deal to bring back forward Corey Brewer, Minnesota parted ways with veteran point guard Luke Ridnour. The trade cleared space needed for—hopefully—retaining big man Nikola Pekovic. Ridnour, along with his expiring $4.6-million contract, left for Milwaukee on July 10.
It seemed clear that either JJ Barea or Ridnour would end up getting shipped before the end of the offseason, and this is the way it went.
No doubt, the Wolves will miss Ridnour’s consistent ball-moving and top-of-the-key floaters. It’s a reasonable sacrifice to make, however. Whereas Kahn continued to sign point guard after point guard in an effort to … well, no one really knows, Saunders is slowly building a basketball team and putting the pieces together. While Ridnour is a solid shooter, he’s not irreplaceable. Adelman has several shooters to call on, but the defensive game was lacking. Moving Ridnour’s contract to clear cap space is exactly what needed to happen.
The Timberwolves’ 2013 offseason holds no shortage of transactions, that’s for sure. Amid all the moves, though—adding players, trading them, clearing cap space—one question remains: what is the hold up with re-signing center Nikola Pekovic[13]?
With only three months before the regular season [14]kicks off, the Wolves have yet to officially ink a new deal with their leading big man. At 6’11” and only 27 years old, Pekovic is a crucial ingredient to Minnesota’s success. In 2012-2013, he averaged 16.3 points and nearly nine rebounds per game—and he only committed two turnovers during that term!
While it makes sense from a business perspective for Pekovic to hold out for an offer from an outside team—he is now a restricted free agent—no outside offers have come his way. At this point, why are Taylor and Saunders dragging their feet?
With the “other option” door closed, one can bet that Pek’s agent wishes to take every measure available to provide his client—and himself—with the most lucrative contract possible. And on the other side, the Timberwolves want to retain their starting center without overpaying him, which takes time—almost a month, thus far.
The Wolves obviously plan on re-signing Pekovic, whatever it takes. All offseason moves have pointed in this direction, including Saunders’ decision to move Ridnour and dump Malcolm Lee in the name of clearing cap space.
Is Saunders messing this up? To the onlooker in a Wolves jersey, it certainly appears that way. However, I don’t think so. True to his nature, Saunders is playing this game carefully and sensitively.
Allegedly, Pekovic has been offered a 4-year deal worth $50 million, but the native of Montenegro is holding out for a five-year deal. Minnesota has the money – why not just give the guy his contract, call it done? There are multiple options to be considered, here. And contrary to Kahn, Saunders seeks to maintain trusting relationships with his players.
Consider this: giving Pek a five-year deal is not as simple as it may seem. Remember last season, Timberwolves fans? Love pushed for a five-year deal; he wanted to be Minnesota’s franchise player; he was denied. And in case you’ve forgotten, Love also has a tendency to voice his frustrations and attain a poor attitude—off and on the court—when he feels things are not going his way. One can assume Love would be unhappy with Pekovic receiving a contract was denied him. One can also assume that Saunders is well aware of this situation and wants to handle it as safely as possible.
Currently, Saunders is set to meet with Pekovic in person to discuss the contract with him and his agent. Knowing the type of relationship the former coach holds with his players, I imagine it won’t be long after that the Wolves will have their starting center.
We just have to be patient.
Saunders stepped into office in May, and he’s taken complete ownership of the team since then. While fans constantly questioned Kahn’s motivation and game plan, there is no doubt where Saunders’ mind is: winning.
How long will it take to get there?
“Any kind of rebuild is tough,” commented Niesen, “but [Saunders] has the institutional knowledge and has bought into the team to the point that it’s hard to imagine they can take a step back.”
All in all, it’s clear that Saunders’ return to the Timberwolves can only mean good things for the small-market franchise. Between draft night work, free agency moves, and building a strong rapport with his team and the Minnesota fanbase, Saunders could very well be what it takes for the Wolves to get noticed again.
[1] Flip Saunders, President of Basketball Operations. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/twolves/2013/05/03/flip-saunders-returning-to-timberwolves/2132815/
[2] David Kahn criticisms. Despite successfully bringing point guard sensation Ricky Rubio to Minnesota, former President of Basketball Operations David Kahn was often criticized and was known as generally disliked among the fans and even players. http://fansided.com/2012/12/11/kevin-love-eyeing-exit-from-minnesota-growing-tired-of-gm-david-kahn/
[3] Jeff Munneke interview. Quotes used by permission from a personal dialogue with Jeff Munneke, VP of Fan Relations for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/wolves/fan_relations.html
[4] Shabbaz Muhammed. With the 11th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves added Muhammed to their roster. The 21-year-old averaged 17.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG as a freshman at UCLA. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61732/shabazz-muhammad
[5] Muhammed’s Age. Shortly before the NBA Draft, news surfaced that Muhammed’s father lied about his son’s age in order to hold him back an extra year and give him a leg up against older players. http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory
[6] Gorgui Dieng. With the 21st pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves added Dieng to their roster. The 23-year-old averaged 9.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 2.2 APG at Louisville. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51476/gorgui-dieng
[7] Flip Saunders on Twitter. To see his Draft night posts and other reflections on the Timberwolves, follow Flip Saunders. https://twitter.com/Flip_Saunders
[8] Flip Saunders Interview. http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/saunders-muhammad-dieng-fill-immediate-needs-wing-and-paint
[9] Joan Niesen Personal Interview. This quote used by permission from a personal dialogue with Joan Niesen, former Fox Sports North writer and currently working for FOX Sports in LA.
[10] Timberwolves re-sign Chase Budinger. After Redick signed with the Clippers, Minnesota decided on pursuing Budinger for a re-sign deal. Budinger inked a three-year deal worth $16 million. http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=13737
[11] Kevin Martin signs with Timberwolves. Veteran Kevin Martin will be a great fit with Minnesota, who needed to fill the SG slot. Martin also has previous experience with head coach Rick Adelman. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9471752/kevin-martin-luke-ridnour-trade-involving-minnesota-timberwolves-oklahoma-city-thunder-milwaukee-bucks-official
[12] Nets Offseason. The Brooklyn Nets have completely rebuilt their team during this offseason, and they’ve spent an exorbitant amount of money to do so. http://www.thewestsidestory.net/2013/07/16/the-brooklyn-nets-and-their-big-off-season-gamble/
[13] Hold out for Nikola Pekovic. As of July 30, the Timberwolves have yet to make an official deal with center Nikola Pekovic. It seems inevitable that he will return, but under what conditions remains to be seen. http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/story/All-quiet-on-Wolves-front-with-free-agen?blockID=923405
[14] 2013 NBA Season. The 2013-14 NBA season starts on October 29, 2013 and ends on April 16, 2014.
Making the Call 