Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners last week it’s “fair” to say assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg is being developed to succeed Kevin McHale as the Timberwolves’ basketball boss. McHale, 50, has been Taylor’s top basketball operations guy since 1995 when the Mankato businessman bought the team. Hoiberg, 35, joined the front office after his playing career with the Wolves ended in 2006.
“What we’re doing with Fred is that each year we put him in a different area so that he can learn it, so that if and when Kevin decides to step down then you know Fred is there as a candidate for that job,” Taylor said. “That’s been said openly in front of Kevin, and in front of Fred, so this isn’t anything that’s being done in the secret or anything like that, and Kevin’s been very supportive of it and Fred’s been learning a lot. …”
There’s speculation a change could come as early as next year but Taylor said that timeline hasn’t been discussed and Hoiberg isn’t “pushing” for that. “I think that will just weigh upon how well we do,” he said. “I think that will be determined by the decisions we make this year and how well we play this year.”
When McHale took over with the Wolves he was inexperienced. Taylor said he wants to avoid “trial and error” in the future and that’s why there’s a plan to develop Hoiberg, although it’s possible there could be a McHale successor other than Hoiberg.
Meanwhile, the Wolves are having a lot of meetings, including ones attended by Taylor, trying to determine what to do with the No. 3 overall pick in the June 26 NBA draft. Taylor is open to either keeping the No. 3 pick, or trading it away (for perhaps a lower draft choice packaged with veteran players).
There’s a consensus that Derrick Rose of Memphis and Michael Beasley of Kansas State are the two best draft prospects. “I don’t think it’s just obvious this year who would be No. 3,” Taylor said. “I know our guys don’t have a person in mind yet. I know that will be determined after these tests and bringing the players in and meeting them.”