There are factual reasons for the long-standing dysfunction of the Minnesota Timberwolves. For example: They hired David Kahn, and drafted Jonny Flynn instead of Steph Curry.
When Sam Mitchell speaks, the entire Timberwolves franchise cringes
April 1, 2016 at 9:19PM
There have been mystical explanations offered as well. Former Timberwolves executives have asked whether Target Center was built on a burial ground, and we will always have the legend of Joey Two-Step, when the street dancer-turned-Timberwolves entertainer got fired and placed a curse on the franchise.
What has been forgotten is the curse of Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell.
In 2004, the Timberwolves won their only two playoff series in the history of the franchise. They went to the Western Conference finals. They were good enough to win that series, but Cassell hurt himself during one of his ridiculous dances. The Wolves lost to the Lakers and the following season Cassell and Sprewell cared only about compensation, leading Sprewell to say that a contract worth $21 million wouldn't allow him to feed his family.
Here is what has happened to the Wolves since Sprewell's infamous utterance: They fired Flip Saunders, the best head coach in franchise history. They fired Dwane Casey, who may have become the best head coach in franchise history had he been allowed to stay.
They hired Kahn, the worst general manager in the history of professional sports. They passed on Curry and DeMarcus Cousins. They have not had a winning season since.
This has become a franchise desperate not only for competence but for enthusiasm.
This season, for the first time since Sprewell angered whichever gods reign over basketball and common sense, the Timberwolves can sell hope with a straight face. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine give the Wolves perhaps the best young threesome in the league. Towns in particular has played like a budding superstar.
Towns, Wiggins and LaVine also appear to be grounded, coachable youngsters.
Ricky Rubio is finally improving his shooting and is a darling of advanced analytics, which often show his value more than the naked eye. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad have value.
There is hope here, and talent, and likability. Finally, the Timberwolves have something worth selling to the public.
And then Sam Mitchell speaks, and an entire franchise cringes.
Mitchell is the coaching version of curdled milk. He has complained about his plight and his team and even his training staff instead of realizing how lucky he is to get a chance to coach these players.
After the Wolves played poorly on Wednesday night in a loss to the Clippers, Mitchell spoke for about 30 seconds before stomping away after chiding writers for saying nice things about his players.
Grumpiness doesn't disqualify coaches. Curmudgeons populate halls of fame. Gregg Popovich, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Bill Belichick — many coaches delight in their curmudgeonous, but for them it is a tactic, a choice. Mitchell doesn't look like he's manipulating the media or playing to the public or executing a strategy. He just seems unhappy.
Last summer, I suggested that Mitchell was worthy of a look as the Wolves' head coach. I still believe that — he was worth a look. What I didn't know was that Mitchell would treat the opportunity as if it were a Joey Two-Step curse.
There are two reasons for the Wolves to end Mitchell's tenure. First, his is not the right personality to guide enthusiastic young stars. Second, if the Wolves hired an informed consultant to rank the best coaching options available, Mitchell might not make the top 15.
The Wolves could hire Tom Thibodeau, who might be one of the best coaches in the world. They could hire Luke Walton, who would bring charm and a working knowledge of what makes the Warriors special.
Scott Brooks has close friends in the organization. Spurs assistants Ettore Messina and Becky Hammon, Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie, St. John's coach Chris Mullin, David Blatt, Cassell himself … there are intriguing candidates from all compass points and demographics.
The Wolves should hire a coach who will appreciate working with three of the best young players in the world, a coach who might want to make those players stick around past their rookie contracts.
Jim Souhan's podcast can be heard at MalePatternPodcasts.com. On
Twitter: @SouhanStrib. • jsouhan@startribune.com
Anthony Edwards scored 36, coming up big as his team blew a 20-point lead but ended a three-game losing streak anyway.
