August 2009

The search for a new Head Coach is nearing an end for the Minnesota Timberwolves and according to our knowledge, Mark Jackson looks to be the front-runner out of the final three candidates that includes Lakers Assistant Coach Kurt Rambis and Rockets Assistant Coach Elston Turner. In a decision that should be announced within the next week, Jackson has a step over his competition according to sources close the situation. It is important to point out that Kahn’s final selection still has to meet with Glen Taylor before any final decision is made. That meeting may or may not impact the process, but it’s likely Taylor will leave it up to Kahn to find the right guy.

Despite being interviewed a second time, Turner’s chances of becoming the Wolves new Head Coach appear to be very slim. Rambis seems to be in a close second behind Jackson as the front runner. Rambis is currently one of the leagues hottest coaching candidates in the league because of his winning background from his playing and coaching days with the LA Lakers. He would bring a vast amount of discipline and knowledge to the Wolves and is by far the most experienced out of the three candidates. The big question is, would his coaching style fit this young team? Our current roster may take more of a liking to a player’s coach like Mark Jackson than say the hard nosed defensive minded Rambis.

Ultimately it seems to me that this will come down to a gut decision from David Kahn as all three candidates have no prior head coaching experience. Whoever Kahn selects, he will be taking a gamble. With Jackson, Kahn would be getting a guy that he is familiar with as the two spent several years together in the Pacers organization (Jackson as a player, Kahn in the front office). Jackson also happens to be a former point guard who has the experience of leading a team on the court; I think he could translate that leadership to the sidelines with ease. One thing you have to remember is that it just so happens that the Timberwolves future lies heavily on two young point guards, Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. Who’d be better to coach them then one of the league’s most prolific passers in Mark Jackson? Jackson would be an excellent mentor to these two young men on and off the court.

If I’m the Wolves, I’m probably looking to make a splash with this new hiring and Mark Jackson would give this team hype on a national level.From a fan’s perspective, I would be much more excited to see Jackson coach the Wolves than I would if Rambis or Turner was named the coach. Just by listening to him on TV, you can tell Jackson would be a player’s coach and that’s what our young players need in Minnesota, a guy who can relate to his team. We saw how this team responded to a player’s coach last year in Kevin McHale, and I think those results speak volume that this team needs to find a guy with a similar approach.

TimberwolvesPress will keep you updated with any new info on this situation!