Minnesota Timberwolves: Is Don Nelson the Right Choice for Head Coach?

Don Nelson is reportedly interested in coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves. Should David Kahn and Glen Taylor take a chance on Nellie leading Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and the rest of this extremely young team?

Short answer: no. 

Don Nelson carries too much baggage and uses an unhinged coaching style not suitable for this raw team. Due to his age already solidified status as an elite coach he probably won't stick around Minnesota too long. Therefore, he will not provide the necessary guidance to a team in a critical rebuilding stage 

While Don Nelson is one of the most talented and intelligent coaches in the game, he also has a flair for the dramatic. Nellie's time in Golden State ended on a real sour note with players turning against him.

David Kahn has already created enough drama for this team. Fans don't need to see it coming from the sideline as well as the front office.

With regards to his coaching to style, Nellie is a basketball genius, but this Wolves team needs a leader and mentor as much as a teacher.

Nelson hasbeen described as a “Mad Scientist.” He tinkers and tweaks his lineups. His teams do some unconventional things on the court. His run and gun, "Nellie Ball" style is fun to watch and maybe it would fit with this team. 

David Kahn also wants to play “up-tempo basketball” because he believes that's what fans want to see. 

News flash, fans want to see winning basketball.If the team's not winning, they're not coming. With only 32 wins the past two seasons, this team needs to work on a lot more things than just speed.  

Don basically forgets about defense. The Wolves were a sieve for opposing teams. Kevin Love and Derrick Williams need a lot of help maturing their defensive games. Nellie has a fun style, but this team needs help stopping teams from scoring. 

The team also needs a loyal coach who is going to stick with them for a while. The team is at a critical point with the arrival of Rubio and Williams, the breakout of Kevin Love and the continued progress of Michael Beasley. The Wolves are a few years from playoff contention and they need a coach to stick with them.

It's doubtful that Nellie will stick around for that long. The man has a home in Maui. Why would he want to spend his winters in Minnesota?  

Nellie has the power to get a fat contact. He doesn't have anything to prove. He could let this team run as fast as it wants for two years and walk away with a few million dollars in his pocket.

The other question the team needs to ask is: Will this convince Kevin Love to stick around? With Nelson's age and tumultuous relationship with some of his players, he's probably not the best choice. 

Who is a better choice? Rick Adelman. He ran one of the most successful teams of the early 2000s (Sacramento) and remains consistent winner without controversy. He also knows Kevin Love and has a relationship with David Kahn. Adelman wouldn't be cheap, but he carries the right characteristics to do the job.  

As talented as Don Nelson is, he's not the right choice for this team.