{"id":231050,"date":"2009-08-01T01:54:31","date_gmt":"2009-08-01T01:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vip.local\/2009\/08\/01\/wolves-updates-731-part-2-v15-2409\/"},"modified":"2009-08-01T01:54:31","modified_gmt":"2009-08-01T01:54:31","slug":"wolves-updates-731-part-2-v15-2409","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/wolves-updates-731-part-2-v15-2409\/","title":{"rendered":"Wolves Updates 7\/31 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
He and Kahn also said there is nothing to reports that the Wolves’ coaching decision is a possible factor in Rubio’s decision of whether to play in the NBA this season, denying that the Spanish point guard has expressed his preference to the team.<\/em><\/p>\n “That is absolutely false,” Kahn said.<\/em><\/p>\n “That hasn’t been part of it,” Taylor added. “As far as Ricky, his comments (to us) have been that he wants to come here. He has no conditions. He would just like to get his buyout resolved so he can afford to come here. You know, he wants to play. He just wants to play.” <\/em><\/div>\n League sources say the finalists include ABC-TV analyst and former NBA point guard Mark Jackson, Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner, Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and Portland Trail Blazers assistant Monty Williams. Jackson has been considered the front-runner.<\/em><\/p>\n Kahn recently returned from Spain, where he met with Ricky Rubio(notes), the Timberwolves\u2019 first-round pick. Kahn hoped to help Rubio find a way to lower the buyout with his Spanish team, but would not discuss specifics of the trip.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWith Rubio, I\u2019m just trying to make sure we don\u2019t overstep our bounds while we go through this stuff,\u201d Kahn said.<\/em><\/div>\n The centerpiece of Prentiss\u2019 2003 state championship team rbrought former teammate and current Boston Celtic Tony Allen to what looks to be an annual event. The event was held on the exact same floor where Jefferson, Mississippi\u2019s Mr. Basketball in 2004, announced he would skip college and enter the NBA draft.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAround this area, it\u2019s a once in a lifetime event for a NBA player to come (put on) a camp,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s all about, the kids.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how quick life can turn around. I was them.\u201d<\/em><\/div>\n \u201cWe have a new general manager and his vision is different than what it was before,\u201d Gomes said. \u201cWe have a lot of new players and I think we\u2019re going to play a different style of basketball. We\u2019re going to be more up-tempo with the guys we have now. It should be exciting.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cKahn is making his mark and trying to shake things up. Obviously, the last two years we haven\u2019t won many games. It was time for a change.\u201d<\/em><\/div>\n
\u201cI think if you\u2019re going to hire a coach, my personal feeling, and this is me, maybe I\u2019m a fool, bringing someone into a hotel suite or a conference room is fine,\u201d Kahn said. \u201cBut I felt like the court is their work space and part of the second round is to take people out there and go over some X\u2019s-and-O\u2019s stuff so they can show me right there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n