Timberwolves – Page 37 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wolves’ Glen Taylor: No Comment on GM

Posted on May 22, 2022 by David Shama

It’s evident the Timberwolves want someone with a high profile resume to become the leader of basketball operations in the front office. Sachin Gupta has been the interim boss since last September when Gerrson Rosas was dismissed for reportedly having an inappropriate relationship with an office employee and fostering a tense office environment.

Asked recently by Sports Headliners about developments in naming a leader of basketball operations, owner Glen Taylor said, “No, I don’t have any comments on that.”

Publicly, Taylor has remained noncommittal about Gupta who was a top assistant to Rosas. In a March interview with Sports Headliners Taylor said in regard to Gupta’s status “we’ll wait and see how this year goes.”

While Gupta is highly regarded in the organization, he has never led an NBA team as its GM or president of basketball operations. Perhaps prompted by aggressive ownership partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, multiple media reports are that the franchise is in pursuit of a proven decision maker.

The list of best NBA basketball execs is short and it isn’t a slam dunk for the Wolves to draw interest. Things can be complicated by existing commitments or the fact candidates don’t see the Wolves franchise as a desirable destination.

Media reports have Minnesota talking with Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly who has been in Denver for almost 10 years. There is speculation Lore and Rodriguez have signed off on Connelly but any deal would need the blessing of majority owner Taylor.

Connelly is an NBA lifer whose team next season will rank among contenders to win the Western Conference. It’s reasonable to think the Wolves will pay the right executive $10 million annually. That’s believed to be far more than Connelly earns in Denver. Whether money talks loud enough for Connelly or another top leader to change residences will likely be known in the next seven days.

The NBA Draft is June 23 and with that date looming a candidate like Connelly will want to settle soon on where he is working. For now Gupta, with the title of executive VP of basketball operations, is running the pre-draft process for the Wolves. If ownership’s pursuit of a big name leader falls short, Gupta may see his title change to president of basketball operations—at least for awhile. Taylor, Lore and Rodriguez could be shopping again next spring.

The process leading to majority ownership by Lore and Rodriguez appears on track for their takeover in December of 2023. “They haven’t asked for any changes,” Taylor told Sports Headliners last week.

In that interview Taylor described Lore and Rodriquez as “wonderful guys.” Lore, an aggressive entrepreneur, is expected to bring innovation including technology to the franchise. “He’s a big thinker,” Taylor said.

Rodriquez was an MLB superstar who transitioned successfully to business. Taylor anticipates Rodriguez’s background as a player will bring a new perspective to Wolves ownership about how players want to be coached, and how players can best relate to one another. “A-Rod is just very likeable,” Taylor said.

While the new owners say they’re committed to keeping the franchise in Minneapolis, Lore and Rodriguez have made it known Target Center (opened in 1990) needs to be replaced with a new arena in coming years. “I think we’ll have to do something,” Taylor said. “I think it will be more their priority than mine.”

Of more immediate concern is the draft when the Wolves will select at No. 19 in the first round and then have three second round picks. Asked what the Timberwolves are looking for in the first round, Taylor identified power forward as a priority. Another need could be a backup for starting center Karl-Anthony Towns.

With draft choices and trades, this offseason could see roster changes. Regarding potential trades, do the Wolves have untouchables? “I would put Karl on there, that’s for sure.” Taylor said about his NBA All-Star

Does 20-year-old Anthony Edwards receive the same label? “I sure would,” Taylor answered about Edwards who led all NBA rookies in scoring a year ago.

While the Wolves earned their way into the NBA playoffs this spring for only the third time since 2004, the experience left Taylor unsatisfied. He said “quite frankly” his team could have won the best of seven series against the Grizzlies, instead of losing 4-2.

“We just had letdowns that affected our whole team. Players just backed off on defense and didn’t do what the coach expected of them and that really hurt us. They did that kind of by quarter. They just had periods of 12 minutes where they didn’t do it and it’s just enough to lose the game.

“…I saw some really great things that they could do and they did do, so I am a little disappointed that important games like what we had in the playoffs the guys couldn’t carry through all 48 minutes.”

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U Looks on Track with Jaxon Howard

Posted on May 17, 2022May 17, 2022 by David Shama

How are the Golden Gophers doing in pursuit of the state’s No. 1 football prospect in the class of 2023? “I think Minnesota truly is in the thick of it for Jaxon (Howard),” Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners Monday.

Burns is the Gopher Illustrated and 247Sports authority who tracks U football year round. Howard, a potential college tight end or defensive lineman in college, has LSU, Miami and Minnesota among his preferred destinations. The Robbinsdale Cooper star will make official campus visits to all three schools next month, per Burns. And yesterday on Twitter Howard announced those three programs and Michigan comprise his final four list.

Jaxon and his dad Willie Howard, the Cooper coach and a former NFL defensive lineman, have a close relationship so that could be a factor in the college choice. As a hometown prospect, Jaxon has witnessed positive developments with the Gopher program including two of the last three seasons winning nine games or more. Hopkins alum Boye Mafe stayed home to play defensive end for the Gophers and was drafted in the NFL’s second round this spring.

The Gophers also have four verbal commits from Minnesotans in their class of 2023. Jerome Williams, Reese Trip, Greg Johnson and Martin Owusu are the state’s No. 2, 4, 5 and 6^th ranked prep players for 2023, per 247Sports. Knowing the state’s better prep prospects appear Minnesota-bound could influence Howard.

Burns said 2023 commit Darius Taylor, the running back from Walled Lake, Michigan who Iowa and Wisconsin offered, is friends with Howard and has been encouraging him to become a Gopher. The two spent time together at the spring game and Taylor has been pitching on social media for Howard to stay home.

Head coach P.J. Fleck and his assistants are recruiting now. After a short break around Memorial Day, recruiting intensifies for power five schools like Minnesota with the staging of camps during June. The Gophers will host two camps in June, according to Burns, and will attend others out of the state to evaluate talent.

Burns thinks Anthony Brown, the four-star wide receiver from Ohio who was a prize verbal commit before backing off his pledge, will be interested in earning an offer from Ohio State in June when he attends a Buckeyes’ camp. Brown’s brother Michael Brown–Stephens plays wide receiver for the Gophers and Anthony was wooed at the U spring game, but Burns isn’t wagering he will take up residence in Dinkytown. “They’re in the mix. (But) I don’t anticipate a reunion between the two parties. …”

The Gophers passed the football less than any other power five school last season and that was a red flag to Brown. If he doesn’t commit elsewhere before Signing Day in December, Brown could be watching the Gophers this fall to see if they revive their passing attack.

Perhaps the Gophers will end up with high three-star wide receiver recruit Tamarcus Cooley from North Carolina. “Minnesota has been pushing for him tremendously hard,” Burns said.

Gopher assistants Greg Harbaugh Jr. (he has North Carolina ties) and Matt Simon are in pursuit of Cooley who is expected to visit campus next month. “I think the offer list (for Cooley) would be just as comparable to someone like Anthony Brown,” Burns said. “I think it will be very interesting to see how much of an impact they can make on that June official visit with…Tamarcus Cooley.”

Burns also said Simons watched Georgia WR Jarvis Hayes work out recently and the Gophers have offered a scholarship. Hayes has shown his athleticism with a high jump of 6-feet four-inches, per Burns, and the Gophers “pretty badly” want him.

Hayes and West Fargo defensive lineman Karter Menz are two names Burns mentioned when asked who may make verbal commitments to Minnesota during the summer. Nebraska has also offered a scholarship to Menz.

247Sports ranks Elinneus Davis from Moorhead as the state’s No. 3 prospect and the defensive lineman’s college offers include the Gophers and Washington. He could project as a 300-plus nose tackle on the next level. “Academics are going to be important to him,” Burns said. “I know Minnesota wants him tremendously bad. I think they’ve got a pretty legitimate shot at him.”

The Gophers’ on-campus camps will be June 5 and 15, with official visit weekends for recruits June 10 and 17. Burns doesn’t expect any verbal commits during the busy month of June, but that will change in the summer and fall.

Worth Noting

What was the biggest positive Burns took from watching spring practice? “The passing game looks like they know what they want to be,” he said.

Burns’ evaluation is that under 2021 offensive coordinator Mike Sanford the Gophers continually tried something different in the passing game. With the return of previous coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca the expectation of Burns is a return to the RPO passing game “that was so prolific in 2019.”

Major concern? Burns wants to see the emergence of playmaker receivers beyond senior Chris Autman-Bell now in his sixth season with the program. The candidates are Dylan Wright, Michael Brown-Stephens, Daniel Jackson and Brevyn Spann–Ford. “I just want to see with my own two eyes that when the lights come on Saturdays that those four guys are ready to help Tanner (QB Morgan) and his passing game take a step forward.”

Worth watching too in fall camp and early games will be the status of veteran running backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts. Both were injured and missed most of last season, and then had no risky contact in the spring while they recovered.

Ibrahim is recovering from an Achilles tear and that’s serious business for a college running back, although he always relied more on his strength, toughness and savvy in finding holes than he did speed. He does need to be able to make decisive cuts as he did in the past as a 2020 All-American. “I am hopeful we see him at least 90 percent,” Burns said. “I think that’s realistic.”

Potts’ injury was never publicly disclosed but Burns said it didn’t involve soft tissue. He predicts a “100 percent” likelihood of Potts being able to perform as in the past.

Wishing the best for former Minnesota Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien in his convalescence following 10-plus days in the hospital.

The postseason results for men’s pro sports franchises in Minneapolis-St. Paul has been discouraging for years and the first round exits by the Wild and Timberwolves this spring add to the woes. Check the records back to October 1, 2004 and the combined postseason winning percentage of the Timberwolves, Twins, Vikings and Wild is 28 percent—32 wins, 71 losses.

In Game One of the AL Division Series on October 5, 2004 the Twins defeated the Yankees in New York 2-0. Since then the Twins haven’t won a postseason game, compiling 18 consecutive losses and a 1-19 record.

The Timberwolves are 3-8 during the period referenced, with two playoff appearances. The Vikings 4-7 and the Wild 24-48.

The Vikings announced Monday they have released a player with one of the best football names I recall: linebacker Tuf Borland. He played in two games last season for the Purple.

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Count Fans among Wolves’ Heroes

Posted on April 24, 2022April 24, 2022 by David Shama

As they so often do, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves in scoring last night, but there were other heroes, too, in Minnesota’s 119-118 playoff win over the Grizzlies at Target Center.

After the drama that evened the series at 2-2, guard Patrick Beverley gushed about the electric crowd who backed the team after a dreadful Game 3 loss Thursday evening when the Wolves blew a 26-point lead and lost 104-95. Talking to the Target Center crowd and the Bally Sports North TV audience, Beverley said the fans were the “reason we won this game.”

Coach Chris Finch praised the atmosphere and energy in the building while answering questions at his postgame presser. “It’s awesome. I’d like to play all my games at 9 o’clock, with a Twins game to get everybody warmed up.

“There’s been a great crowd all year. It’s been growing and growing and growing. It’s always been a tough place to play because the crowd is right on top of you here. …They were loud and our guys really responded well to it.”

Toward the end of Thursday night’s game at Target Center there were boos for the hometown team after the crowd had roared its approval for most of four quarters. Saturday night the fan base hadn’t forgotten the Thursday meltdown but was hopeful because of a season that has been a breakthrough for the franchise. Wolves Nation came alive this year as the team won 46 regular season games and made the playoffs for only the second time since 2004.

Target Center sellouts (19,832 last night) and crazed fans create positive vibes including for future owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. Rumors of eventually relocating the franchise to another city are associated with their names. They have made it clear Target Center needs to be replaced with a new Wolves home in Minnesota but for now the support of the fans and their passion for this team has to influence Lore and Rodriguez who are buying majority control of the franchise from Glen Taylor.

Heroes among the Wolves’ players? Start where you want but Beverley deserves to have his name mentioned again. With 17 points, he was the team’s third leading scorer behind Towns’ 33 and Edwards’ 24. Just as noticeable was how the feisty guard dogged the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, holding the regular season 27.4 points per game scorer to 11 points on four of 13 shooting.

It wasn’t just Beverley defending Morant, as the Wolves took a team approach to frustrating the All-Star point guard who had his fourth foul early in the third quarter and spent more than 14 minutes on the bench last night. Finch said the Grizzlies go “as Ja goes, and we did a good job of putting our body in his way.”

The most unlikely of heroes before the game was reserve guard Jordan McLaughlin who couldn’t be sure he would see any playing time. But he couldn’t have made more of his 14 minutes, making five of six shots including four-of-four three pointers. His 16 points was fourth best on the Wolves.

The winning team in the series each game has been the club with the most rebounds. Last night the Wolves not only had the most boards but held the Grizzlies to six offensive rebounds while limiting second chance points by Memphis.

Forward Jared Vanderbilt had eight rebounds, second for the Wolves behind Towns’ 14. Vanderbilt doesn’t concern opponents with his shooting but his physical style and hustle are intangibles Finch values. “We’re just a better team when he is out there,” Finch said.

The game Saturday night had all kinds of drama, including protestors who were quickly removed by security personnel. Of more interest to fans was seeing Edwards limping off the court about midway through the first quarter with an apparent knee injury. He headed for the locker room but by 3:41 in the quarter was back in the game.

Neither injury nor defenders have much success in slowing the gifted 20-year-old guard who has referred to himself as “Black Jesus.” He scored 20-plus points for the third time in the series and has been the most consistent performer of the team’s Big Three that includes Towns and guard D’Angelo Russell.

Edwards and the Warriors’ Stephen Curry (2013) are the only players in NBA postseason history to total four-plus three point field goals in their first four career playoff games. Edwards has 99 points through four those games and that’s more than any other Wolves player starting his playoff career.

It was “Ant” who made two free throws with eight seconds remaining in the game to put the Wolves ahead 117-112. Fittingly, Towns made two free throws seconds later to give Minnesota its final points in the narrow win.

The Wolves received 15 more free throw attempts than Memphis. Towns had a career playoff high converting 14 of 17 free throws. He scored 13 of his career playoff high 33 points in the fourth quarter. With his double-double in points and rebounds, KAT was the biggest of heroes last night.

In Beverley’s postgame TV comments, he quipped about his $31.6 million teammate. “We pay him all that money. We expect him to do that.”

For all the heroics and celebration last night, the game was close and not decided until the closing seconds. And in the four games so far there is this warning for Wolves’ fans: Memphis has outscored Minnesota by 22 points.

Tuesday night in Memphis one team will move ahead in the series but for now Wolves’ fans have satisfaction in knowing there will be a series Game 6 in Minneapolis Friday evening.

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