The NBA: Where Amazing Happens.
An illustration: It's amazing that new Wolves' president of basketball operations David Kahn is willing to be so open. Typically, when listening to a player, coach, or team executive, Journalism 101 needs to be applied - Why is this person lying to me?
But, so far, Kahn is not shy in speaking his mind, which is fabulous. According to twolvesblog.com, in a breakfast meeting with season ticket holders Tuesday, he pointed out that on a championship-caliber team, Al Jefferson, at best, is the second best player. Kevin Love is the fourth best.
Another excellent Wolves-related site, canishoopus.com, provides further detail.

  1. "We need everything but 4s" -- Kahn basically said that other than Bassy (Telfair) as a backup PG, he doesn't think much of anyone else on the roster.
  2. That especially includes Foye (he said that the Foye/Roy trade "may go down as one of the worst in NBA history") -- it does not appear that he thinks too much of our pick 3 years ago.

That kind of honesty is appreciated and is 100 percent spot on. The more I hear from Kahn, the more I like. He still needs to show, not tell, but philosophically, he gets it.
It'll become a full-fledged man crush if Kahn decides to part ways with Kevin McHale.
My reasons for feeling that way have been documented in previous blog entries. Instead of turning the rest of this posting into an anti-McHale rant, it'll be about why Kahn needs to hire Sam Mitchell.
Let me single out two responses to this idea when I initially tossed it out a few days ago.

  • what blows my mind is the somehow super popular idea that we should cut ties to the good old boys club, get some "new blood" in here, and hire SAM MITCHELL as the new blood with no ties to McHale or Taylor.... it is so ridiculous, and yet so popular. When did we get so, so dumb and obsessed with "one of us" that going outside the organization isn't even outside the organization anymore?
  • This column argues to replace mchale and bring in someone independent of the organization's ugly past. And then, who does he recommend for the job? Is it a true outsider, someone without ties to the wolves, someone who won't be tangled and compromised by personal connections? Nope. It's Sam MItchell, a Wolves player for many years, a mchale friend and protege. How do people like doogie become pundits with forums like this? Probably the same way the chain of mediocrity goes unbroken at the wolves.

Mitchell and McHale were never close. Mitchell has been away from the organization since 2002. To suggest that Mitchell is just another member of the "country club" is wrong.
I also heard fans wondering why Mitchell's name hadn't come up in association with any of the other coaching openings this offseason. Boss Ed Stefanski of Philadelphia hired a guy he has a history with - Eddie Jordan. Washington went with Flip. Hard to argue with that selection. The Kings' job is the worst in the league, and the guy they got, Paul Westphal, was given just a two-year contract. That's coaching suicide. Mitchell, I can guarantee, had no interest in that job when he still has money coming his way from Toronto for the '09-'10 season. He can be selective.
The Wolves' job has its appeals. Owner Glen Taylor has demonstrated a willingness to spend money in the past. They have multiple first round picks in this year's draft. They have cap flexibility, so free agency and trades are on the table, especially next summer. They have a European center in Nikola Pekovic, who some view as a future starter.
It's not tough to see why someone like Mitchell, or someone else, would come here - if a lengthy commitment is made. It'll be tough to get a decent coach without, minimum, a four-year contract.
When Kahn says his team is lacking an alpha-status player, the next head coach has to be given time.
Mitchell, when given that time, succeeded in Toronto. He took a team with below average talent in '06-'07 and won a division title. While studying his team's numbers that season, he won despite being in the bottom seven in the league in free throw attempts and bottom four in every rebounding category. In other words, they won because of execution, a direct reflection on Mitchell.
He helped develop Chris Bosh into the player he is today. He made Mike James a lot of money. In fact, the only coach to get James to play, is Mitchell.
He did have a run-in with Rafer Alston, but look at Alston's track record.
Raptors forward Andrea Bargnini recently said that everyone likes new coach Jay Triano, unlike Mitchell. To me, if every player on a team likes the head coach, there's a problem. The coach needs to be respected, not neccassarily liked.
Mitchell would earn that respect. Mitchell was fired last season by his new boss, Bryan Colangelo, who always wanted to bring in his own guy. Mitchell lost nine of his first 17-games and Colangelo saw an opening. Triano came in and finished the season 15-games below .500.
Mitchell never had the players in Toronto, yet still won his fair share of games.
He's willing to work his butt off.
Sources tell me that Mitchell has not been contacted by Kahn, at least yet. Previously, I made mention of Kahn and Mitchell being in Indiana together and having a bit of a relationship. That was incorrect, but that doesn't mean Kahn can't pick up the phone and get to know Mitchell.
He can adapt to the players that are here.
Chauncey Billups, in a recent ESPN.com story, gives Mitchell a ton of credit for turning him into the player and person he is today.
If Mitchell is the hire, we can paraphrase a Kevin Harlan saying: "Sam I am, green eggs and ham, Kahn, with his hire,....BAM!"