Jack McCloskey, the former Timberwolves general manager and the man who built the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" championship teams, died Thursday. He was 91.
The Pistons said McCloskey died in Savannah, Ga. He had fought Alzheimer's disease.
Led by McCloskey draft picks Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman — all Hall of Famers, along with coach Chuck Daly — and trade acquisitions Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, Rick Mahorn, Mark Aguirre and James Edwards, the Pistons won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.
Known as "Trader Jack," McCloskey helped guide Detroit to nine consecutive playoff appearances, five Eastern Conference finals in a row, and three NBA Finals.
He left the Pistons in 1992 for the Timberwolves and was GM until being replaced by Kevin McHale in 1995.
McCloskey traded away four of the Wolves' six No. 1 picks during his tenure, including centers Felton Spencer and Luc Longley. Those deals produced Mike Brown and Stacey King. He also fired two coaches, Jimmy Rodgers and Sidney Lowe.
![Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly speaks during a press conference to introduce the team's 2022 NBA draft selections Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Target Center in Minneapolis. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/5TJRTEW45B4MW7WV6N7UJSXBU4.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)