Wolves’ Taylor explains McHale’s exit
August 2, 2009
MANKATO, Minn. (AP)—While Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahncontinues his methodical search for a new head coach, owner Glen Taylor says itnow should be clear why it didn’t work out with the old one.
Taylor told The Associated Press on Sunday that the financially motivatedtrades Kahn has made this summer that have jettisoned veterans Mike Miller(notes),Randy Foye(notes), Mark Madsen(notes), Craig Smith(notes) and Sebastian Telfair(notes) probably would nothave sat well with former coach Kevin McHale, who brought all those players toMinnesota when he was the boss.
Kahn told McHale in June that he would not return to coach next season, buthe refused to divulge his reasons for making the decision in a news conferenceafter it was announced.
“It’s probably a little bit more obvious why he would have had trouble withCoach McHale,” Taylor said Sunday after a visit to Vikings training camp in hishometown of Mankato. “Some of those guys were really his favorite guys.
“I think David knew he was going in that direction. I think he talked thatover with McHale. So I think now you have a better understanding why they bothagree that it probably wasn’t going to work out in the long run because Davidwas going in a different direction than probably McHale would want to go.”
The Timberwolves have been the only team in the NBA without a head coach forseven weeks now. But Taylor said on Sunday that he expects the job to be filledfairly soon.
“I’m under the assumption that, if things go good, that in the next week orso we’ll make a decision on the coaching,” Taylor said. “He’s nailed it downto a few guys. We actually haven’t made a decision on the final guy yet. But Ithink we’re close to doing that.”
Kahn has said that he is more interested in making the right decision than aquick one, and he has backed that up with an exhaustive search. He interviewedmore than a dozen candidates for the initial round and has whittled that down tothree finalists—ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers assistant KurtRambis and Houston assistant Elston Turner.
The process was delayed when Kahn traveled to Spain two weeks ago to discussdraft pick Ricky Rubio’s(notes) contract situation, but he began conducting the secondround of interviews late last week. Turner told Houston television stationKRIV-TV that he had a second interview.
Taylor said Sunday that he definitely will want to meet with the prospectivecoach before a decision is made.
“That’s why I can tell you that a decision has not been made,” Taylorsaid. “I can say that for sure.”
Taylor also spoke about Rubio’s sticky contract situation. The 18-year-oldpoint guard is under contract with DKV Joventut in Spain for another two years,a deal that has a buyout of around $6.6 million.
The Timberwolves can only offer $500,000 to help with the deal, so thefinancial strain it would put on Rubio is making him think twice about coming tothe NBA this season.
“It appears to be just a wait and see thing,” he said. “He wants to come,so that’s not a problem. It’s just that money deal. The team that he has playedfor is, so far, kind of held on to a higher figure than what his family feelsthey can afford to give him.”
When Kahn flew to Spain to meet with Rubio’s family and Joventut officials,he was hoping to help Rubio’s representatives reduce the buyout to a level thatwould make it easier for Rubio to pay. Kahn called the trip “productive” buthas not commented specifically on how things went.
The way Taylor sounded on Sunday, it doesn’t appear much headway was made inthat area.
“I don’t know what’s going to be his options or if they’re going to comedown a little bit,” Taylor said. “There’s nothing more we can do other than goover there and say, ‘I wish you guys would work it out.”’
The owner has been encouraged, however, by Rubio’s willingness to play forthe Wolves. When he was drafted fifth overall in June, there were some reportsthat he did not want to come to chilly Minnesota and preferred to play in alarger market.
“I communicated with them. I think we got all past that,” Taylor said.“I’m confident on his responses that he says this would really be neat to getin the NBA. I think it’s his goal and what he really wants. He just wants to beable to do it and be able to afford it.”
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