With permission from publisher Chris Harte, we raided the Star Tribune mail room and dusted off letters sent to former longtime columnist Dan Barreiro. There was such a back-up, with a handful of envelopes postmarked with the address: 3415 University Ave. from a P. Help, we decided just to grab one from the very top.
Dear Dr. Dan: It was the toughest basketball-related decision of my life. No, not giving Stojko Vrankovic millions of dollars - telling Kevin McHale that it was no longer his call on his future. We've been very close for 13 years. Now I'm having seconds thoughts about hiring a full-fledged general manager, someone who'll have free reign. I'm having a hard time officially handing over the keys to my franchise. Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey has withdrawn his name from consideration. What Jerry Zgoda said on his blog is right - Lindsey doubted whether I'd be willing, in essence, to put my money where my mouth is in terms of building a winning organization. There were "control" issues.
I badly need your help!
G. Taylor, Mankato
Dear G. Taylor: Dr. Dan is in Elk Mound, Wis. with Carl Gerbschmidt for the weekend, so Dr. Darren is filling in.
This Lindsey news is definitely troubling for the 12 remaining fans. Stop-n-pop on Zgoda's blog said it very well: I think the owner of a franchise that has bumbled its way throughnumerous drafts, free agent signings, off-season acquisitions, sub-25win seasons, terrible coaching decisions, and is the proud owner of adwindling revenue stream should have a pretty good answer to thequestion of why the #1 candidate for this job walked away from thisopportunity.
Your issue is - the neccessity to have a committee approach. That style may work with Taylor Corporation, but doesn't work when running a professional basketball team. The GM is the most important hire in your organization. Mess it up, and you'll be mentioned in the same breath as Donald Sterling and Al Davis. Get it right, and this franchise will quickly return to a level of respectability. There are appealing things with your franchise: multiple first round picks in the next two drafts, wiggle room under the salary cap next summer, a budding star in Al Jefferson, and a solid piece in Kevin Love.
Hire one singular voice. Don't be afraid. Former Heat boss Randy Pfund makes sense. We don't really know how much of Miami's success the last decade is a direct result of his decision making, or if Pat Riley was calling all the shots. But, he's been around the game for years and would satisfy the public's demand for an outside hire.
Former Pacers GM David Kahn, pushed into this process by commissioner David Stern, has been away from the game too long and we know for sure that Donnie Walsh was the one signing off on all the moves in Indiana.
Continue to take the time you need, but keep in mind a new regime needs at least a few weeks to prepare for the June 25 draft.
Best of luck - you'll need it.