ESPN reports
The presumed favorite in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ quiet search for a new head of basketball operations has pulled out of the running.
San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey, widely billed as the Wolves’ No. 1 target, has withdrawn from consideration, according to sources with knowledge of Minnesota’s search.
Lindsey is one of only two known external candidates, along with former Indiana Pacers executive David Kahn, to interview for the position, although one source said Friday that former Miami Heat general manager Randy Pfund could soon interview with the Wolves if he already hasn’t.
The report continues
Trying to import a head of basketball operations from San Antonio seemed a wise path for Wolves owner Glen Taylor to follow in his desire to find a new long-term successor on the personnel side to Kevin McHale. Front offices in Cleveland (Danny Ferry and Lance Blanks), Portland (Kevin Pritchard) and Oklahoma City (Sam Presti) are all run by recent Spurs alumni.
Lindsey could not be immediately reached for comment. The Spurs said Friday that he’s in Germany this weekend scouting the EuroBasket final.
In his second season with the Spurs after more than a decade with the Houston Rockets, Lindsey was similarly courted by the Atlanta Hawks during last season’s playoffs but felt he couldn’t leave the Spurs after less than a year in San Antonio.
It was widely known that Lindsey pulled his name out of consideration from the Atlanta Hawks job because he wouldn’t have the authority/autonomy to make decisions. That ownership/management would take on an active role and shape his agenda.
I’m guessing that Glen Taylor is doing something similar here. That the previous reports of his interest in changing his distasteful management system, haven’t been altogether truthful.
I fully believe Taylor has done something to turn Lindsey off this job.
Some other notes from ESPN’s reportThe Wolves have also been repeatedly linked with Blanks — one of Ferry’s top aides with the Cavaliers — but sources close to the process say that Minnesota has not interviewed Blanks or even sought permission from the Cavs to speak with him.
Kahn’s most recent basketball experience took place in the D-League, but he is a longtime favorite of NBA commissioner David Stern, who is believed to have referred him to Taylor.
I’ve read quite a few negative reports about Kahn while in the D-League so I’m very dubious about him.
The article also mentionsBringing in a new voice, after McHale’s 16 seasons with the organization, is a departure from the committee-style management team Minnesota has employed in recent years. Jim Stack and Fred Hoiberg, who had been working as assistants to McHale, were also interviewed for the top job but are no longer believed to be under consideration, although Hoiberg is a Taylor favorite who would appear to have a good shot at staying with the organization in some capacity.
If people like Lindsey are turning down the job, they’re doing so for a reason, and he’s unlikely to be the only one to do so.
I’d absolutely love to know what Taylor is doing, or has said, to turn Lindsey off taking the job.
Does this force Minnesota into an internal hire?
Or will they force an external hire anyway? Settle for somebody with a dubious reputation as a GM? Like Atlanta did last season when they hired Rick Sund as their GM after their two best targets turned the job down.
San Antonio Spurs
Good news for San Antonio — they need all the front office help they can get to turn around their current situation.
Dave
May 4, 2009
Jerry Zgoda reports
Zgoda also writes that former Hear GM Randy Pfund is in the running, and quite possibly the frontrunner.