Minnesota Timberwolves: Handicapping the Team's Coaching Search

When Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn announced the firing of Kurt Rambis on July 12, he stated that "a pretty wide search" would begin. Kahn is looking for someone whose "DNA is uptempo," and "somebody who really can get the guys to play really hard."

The first-round interviews are now complete. Six candidates made their way to Minnesota, with a seventh talking with Kahn by phone. Now that we know the full list of candidates, let's look at who has the best chance to be named as the 10th head coach in the Timberwolves' franchise history.

7. Rick Adelman

As you probably know by now, Adelman was the candidate who talked with Kahn over the phone. It's too bad, because Adelman was the best-case scenario in the eyes of many Timberwolves fans. Even Kevin Love said in an interview that Adelman "would be phenomenal to play for."

Ultimately, it became obvious that Adelman was likely out of the running when he did not make it to Minnesota for an interview. It turned into a sure thing when he told the Statesman Journal that he "would likely sit the year out" and is "looking forward to getting away from it."

6. Larry Brown

This interview is leaving many Timberwolves fans scratching their heads. Larry Brown seems to be the complete opposite of everything that David Kahn has said he is looking for.

Not only is Brown at the tail end of his career, but he has a history of not dealing well with young players and point guards especially. Not exactly the type of coach for a young team with a rookie point guard. Somewhere, Darko Milicic is shedding a tear.

The only possible reason I could see him coming here is because he is a proven coach who has made bad teams better quickly. However, is he really worth all the headaches he would cause?

5. Terry Porter

Terry Porter was the first candidate to interview for the job. However, he just doesn't bring to the table what David Kahn and the Timberwolves are looking for. He took an uptempo team in Phoenix and slowed them way down to where it was detrimental to the team (Shaq helped, too).

Porter would be an okay candidate as an assistant coach. But for head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Terry Porter is not the answer.

4. Bernie Bickerstaff

Before Kurt Rambis was even fired, there were rumblings around Minnesota that the Timberwolves wanted the father-son Bickerstaff duo to coach the team. However, by the time the Rambis firing was made official, JB had already accepted a position on the Houston Rockets' coaching staff.

That makes hiring Bernie unlikely, but not impossible. The Timberwolves could still see something in the elder Bickerstaff, but he may not have much left in the tank.

3. Don Nelson

If David Kahn is truly looking for a coach with an uptempo DNA, Don Nelson may be the most qualified man for the job. But while he may be the best short-term candidate, he could potentially have the most long-term risk as well.

Nelson currently holds the NBA record for most career coaching wins. At 71 years old, he won't be around very long. However, you can be sure that he'd make his time in Minnesota interesting for all.

2. Mike Woodson

Perhaps one of the safest candidates interviewed, Woodson would bring defensive intensity to the Timberwolves' youthful squad. His history helping the Atlanta Hawks develop into a perennial playoff team would certainly help his transition to Minnesota. However, with all of the athletes on the Hawks' roster, they never were a great uptempo team.

Woodson is also a front-runner for a top assistant job in New York, so Minnesota should move quickly if it has interest in him.

1. Sam Mitchell

Sam Mitchell is no stranger to the Minnesota Timberwolves' basketball. From 1989-1992 and 1995-2002, Mitchell made his home in Minnesota as a player with the team. In fact, he still ranks second in franchise history (behind Kevin Garnett) in total points and total rebounds.

As a coach with the Toronto Raptors, he turned a perennial lottery team and took them to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. They were only a game below .500 when Mitchell got fired, but his replacement was much worse.

Mitchell doesn't seem to care about player rank. He treated the stars the same as the scrubs. He's not as uptempo as David Kahn would probably like, but his teams can run.

Mitchell would be more Taylor's choice than Kahn's. I do think that Kahn will change his mind, though. Mitchell brings the best balance of offense, defense and player development available.