But there is another dynamic at work, insiders say, involving the team’s power structure. Rob Moor, one of Taylor’s sons-in-law, is the Wolves’ heretofore low-profile, low-impact “CEO.” He has been taking a more prominent role lately, however, to the point of spearheading the ostensible GM search that led to Kahn’s hiring to a loftier title. Moor’s power — or at least hands-on activities — has been expanding. And this is in contrast to most previous years, when the basketball side was run by McHale, Saunders and others almost as an independent fiefdom, with a direct line up to Taylor. Moor rarely had any traction internally with that crowd.
Now look at the flowchart: Moor was the guy who hired Kahn, who literally owes his job to Moor. That’s one reason floated for the Wolves seeking out Kahn, a respected but out-of-sight candidate, rather than a more veteran GM with his own track record of NBA personnel success. Moor is said to want more organization and accountability and process-focused initiatives — think color-coded folders and classic managing-up behavior — than McHale, in his casualness and intuitive hoops smarts, ever was going to give. So now McHale might be out, giving Moor (through Kahn) a chance to line up another key position under his authority.
“I think that will be more beneficial in July and August than, say, June,” he said. “Particularly because, if we change (coaches).”
With Carney headed for unrestricted free agency and veterans Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Mark Madsen in the final year of their contracts, the Wolves could look a lot different a month from now.
More change is coming.
“I wouldn’t say in a month, but I’d be stunned if it doesn’t look a lot different in the next 17 months,” Kahn said. “I’m not trying to say we’re not going to do anything now. I think we have several windows of opportunity that will all have a big whoosh of movement. This is just the first.”
Jim Stack and Fred Hoiberg left today for Treviso, Italy, and the three-day Eurocamp featuring many of Europe’s top prospects but which is not expected to include Brandon Jennings, who decided not to participate.
Meanwhile, Rob Babcock and Zarko Durisic are heading out on campus visits to continue background checks on the top prospects while David Kahn remains in town.
“When you are in these situations that are multiple day, no denying the fact that by day three or four, whether you are in Chicago or here, more than exhausting it becomes tedious because of the repetitive nature of the exercise. A lot of people would die to do this for a living so let’s not make it seem that bad after all.”
“What used to be the situation was each team would have a private workouts with a few guys, that’s very expensive, it’s very time consuming. It seems as if the consensus is this is just a more productive use of everybody’s time to knock this many players in four days.”
“I’m working a little bit,” said Love, who claimed he was a bit nervous. “You’re on the complete other side of the spectrum, so you have to be quick with your questions.”
Any perks? “Sure, I get to come to the games for free,” said Love.
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