Kevin McHale, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations, made it clear Randy Wittman will return as coach next season. Owner Glen Taylor previously had pledged his support of the coach.
And Wittman has the endorsement of Wolves superstar Kevin Garnett.
"I think Randy's done a real good job, you know, dealing with the head cases and the things that we have on this team," Garnett said. "We have a very competitive group, a young team, and you know, sometimes that's not the easiest thing to do.
"You have teaching, and you only have so much time to get certain things in, implemented in your system and certain things, man, it's not easy. But he's done a very good job of being headstrong and being very vocal and being up front with a lot of guys, and I think in return ... it's gotten his respect."
Emphasizing how important it would be for Wittman to return, Garnett said: "Absolutely, and if he's not, it's not going to be a good thing. ... I don't want to be here if he's not here.
"I'll just be honest with you, I don't feel like it's fair to him to give him a group like this and to give him half leeway into a season and be just off of that.
"I think he has a lot more to not only give, but he has expertise and experience. He has the confidence and the know-how, and it's hard to get players to connect ...
"So, you know, I hope Glen takes into consideration, and strong consideration in bringing him back and putting some players here and just forming some chemistry."
Garnett said that when Flip Saunders was fired in February 2005, Wittman should have been named coach. Instead, McHale took over for the rest of the season, and Dwane Casey was hired for the 2005-06 season.
"[Wittman] is a big part of why we win, he gives not only myself but everybody on this team confidence," Garnett said. "I've always said that when Flip left I felt like he should have been ... the head coach. I voiced that to Glen, and they obviously made their decisions on what they wanted to do."
Garnett said the Wolves need some additions if they are to be a championship contender. And he paid tribute to the support of the fans -- who, he said, deserve a better team.
McHale also a backer
McHale made it clear that as far he goes, Wittman will be back to coach the team in 2007-08.
"I like Randy, Randy holds guys accountable," McHale said. "He goes out there, you're going to do things a certain way, he holds you at a higher standard. I think you've got to do that. I just think that the players today have to be held accountable. If you're not playing well, you've got to sit down. He's not afraid to sit guys down and he's ... a good disciplined coach.
"I like Randy; he'll be back."
While Taylor said he is going to be more involved in the team's operations next year, you can be assured McHale will be back unless he chooses to not return.
Not holding back
The fact that the Vikings have signed only three free agents so far is not a reflection on owner Zygi Wilf holding back the finances to do that.
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