Click here for the forum’s thread for tonight’s game at Dallas.
Game Previews:
Kevin Love will be in the studio with the Sludge & Lake show on KFAN on Tuesday from 7:00pm-8:00pm (via Rubechat).
Okay, we get it, McHale was pissed off at the effort. But if his patience is really that low and his distaste at the performance really that strong, isn’t it time for him to step aside? He is, after all, more part and parcel of the status quo than anyone in the entire organization. If we are to regard his anger as genuine, that he clearly must believe that on some level he is failing, either as personnel veep, coach, judge of human nature, whatever. And if he’s not prepared to do something about it, then isn’t this and the other “disgusted” outbursts so much kabuki theater?
With just two games remaining, the 47-33 Utah Jazz cannot finish with the one of the NBA’s eight best records, which means it will keep its top-22 protected first-round draft pick this summer rather than transfer it to the Timberwolves.
The Wolves will get Utah’s pick in 2010 if it is not one of the draft’s top 15. They prefer that scenario because they already own the first-round picks of Miami and Boston this summer along with their own and didn’t want four first-rounders in a draft that right now looks like one of the weakest in years.
If the season ended Sunday night, the Wolves would be in line for the draft’s sixth (their own), 17th (Miami’s) and 28th (Boston’s) picks.
Change at the top in Minny: Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who many feel has been too loyal to Kevin McHale, finally announced the team will be hiring a new director of basketball operations — aka, general manager — for next season. McHale was stripped of that job earlier this year and put on the bench as interim coach, though Taylor wants him to stay in that job.
Cavs assistant GM Lance Blanks has been one of the candidates mentioned. Fellow Danny Ferry lieutenant Chris Grant, who runs the Cavs’ draft and turned down the Atlanta Hawks GM job last summer, is another potential candidate for jobs that come open.
The Timberwolves are stuck in rebuilding after trading Kevin Garnett, but they have two good young big men in Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, three first-round picks in this year’s draft and are one of the teams with lots of cap space in 2010. So it is a somewhat attractive position because the tools are there to rebuild.
As of last week, though, the Wolves had not asked for permission to speak with Blanks. Taylor said he’s already conducted several interviews.
Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press on Mark Madsen:
More often, though, he has spent the game seated on the bench, whether in uniform or not.
“The hard part for me about being inactive is you have to wear a suit or a coat,” he said, laughing. “I have a few suits, but sometimes they get wrinkled. Sometimes my shirt gets wrinkled. My wardrobe got stretched a little bit this year.”
Even though he doesn’t play as much, Madsen said he still enjoys the practice and film sessions and has learned a lot working against younger teammates such as center Al Jefferson and forward Ryan Gomes.
Looking ahead, Madsen said he could turn the opportunity to work with young players into a career after his playing days are over.
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