Flip becomes new head coach of Wolves

[Lucky17]

I don't think Flip becoming coach has any impact on K-Love staying or leaving. The decision has been made. Love is gone. No coach is changing his mind. Only a top class player arriving would be enough to make him reconsider at this point.

Words aren't enough. Only actions are.

And this was the other way I was looking at it. No one is interested in taking the job until the Love situation is resolved, and so Flip is taking it on himself to move the team into the post-Love era.

So does this mean we can get on with the trade now?

LOL, I doubt it. Not yet, anyways. I'm betting at least another week, maybe more.

I expect a campaign describing Flip's vision for the club in the meantime. Lots of ink spilled on trade targets to bolster the lineup around Love and convince him to stay.

[WeMadeIt17]

I don't think Flip becoming coach has any impact on K-Love staying or leaving. The decision has been made. Love is gone. No coach is changing his mind. Only a top class player arriving would be enough to make him reconsider at this point.

Words aren't enough. Only actions are.

And this was the other way I was looking at it. No one is interested in taking the job until the Love situation is resolved, and so Flip is taking it on himself to move the team into the post-Love era.

Agreed. Allegedly, Rubio and has camp are very happy with the news and Rubio is eligible for an extension this offseason. Maybe a preemptive move to transition to the Rubio era.

Rubio himself was quoted saying some things about how Love isn't a leader and what not so I wonder if the next piece to fall is Love being traded very soon.

[BleedGreen1989]

Hmmm..this seems a little more telling

Darren Wolfson        ✔ @DarrenWolfson

The Rubio camp is very excited w/ Flip. Had little interest in Joerger, a defensive-minded coach. Rubio contract talks begin soon. #twolves
9:58 AM - 5 Jun 2014

He may know that Love is out the door, so they need to make sure that they can easily transition into the Rubio era.

Beat me to it.

I think they're aiming to make Rubio "the guy" after possibly moving Love. This move appears to really please Ricky.

[KGs Knee]

Haha!

The 'Rubio era'


I didn't think the league's worst starting PG would merit an 'era'. At least not in a good way.

[sed522002]

Hmmm..this seems a little more telling

Darren Wolfson        ✔ @DarrenWolfson

The Rubio camp is very excited w/ Flip. Had little interest in Joerger, a defensive-minded coach. Rubio contract talks begin soon. #twolves
9:58 AM - 5 Jun 2014

He may know that Love is out the door, so they need to make sure that they can easily transition into the Rubio era.

Beat me to it.

I think they're aiming to make Rubio "the guy" after possibly moving Love. This move appears to really please Ricky.

I think that's what caused some friction the last couple of years with Love. He could clearly see that the organization was really pushing for Rubio "that guy".

[D.o.s.]

I don't think Flip becoming coach has any impact on K-Love staying or leaving. The decision has been made. Love is gone. No coach is changing his mind. Only a top class player arriving would be enough to make him reconsider at this point.

Words aren't enough. Only actions are.

And this was the other way I was looking at it. No one is interested in taking the job until the Love situation is resolved, and so Flip is taking it on himself to move the team into the post-Love era.

Agreed.

[saltlover]

Hmmm..this seems a little more telling

Darren Wolfson        ✔ @DarrenWolfson

The Rubio camp is very excited w/ Flip. Had little interest in Joerger, a defensive-minded coach. Rubio contract talks begin soon. #twolves
9:58 AM - 5 Jun 2014

He may know that Love is out the door, so they need to make sure that they can easily transition into the Rubio era.

Beat me to it.

I think they're aiming to make Rubio "the guy" after possibly moving Love. This move appears to really please Ricky.

I think that's what caused some friction the last couple of years with Love. He could clearly see that the organization was really pushing for Rubio "that guy".

Very much so.  Love wanted a 5-year contract extension, but the CBA allows only 1 per team during the CBA.  The Wolves wanted to save that for Rubio, who was a rookie at that point.  Love was ticked, and nearly didn't sign an extension at all, but settled on a 4-year deal with an out after year 3.  The writing has been on the wall for Love's departure for some time.  I hope Rubio makes their dreams come true.

[JSD]

Jay King ‏@ByJayKing  7m
RT @APkrawczynski: APNewsBreak: Flip Saunders is taking the head coaching job with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Retweeted by John Karalis
 Tom Ziller ‏@teamziller  3m
Odds of Flip Saunders The GM trading Flip Saunders The Coach's best player seem low, but Wolves are odd enough that anything is possible.

I never thought I would be this interested in what's going on with Minny..lol

[Lucky17]

Haha!

The 'Rubio era'


I didn't think the league's worst starting PG would merit an 'era'. At least not in a good way.

[mnshyn]

Haha!

The 'Rubio era'


I didn't think the league's worst starting PG would merit an 'era'. At least not in a good way.

LOL this made my day!

[BleedGreen1989]

Marc Stein        ✔ @ESPNSteinLine
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Sources briefed on situation say Flip Saunders' decision to coach Wolves will have no bearing on Kevin Love's stance on his future in 'Sota
12:17 PM - 5 Jun 2014
33 RETWEETS  11 FAVORITES ReplyRetweetFavorite

[michael 26]

Ha! Desperation move... Love is ours!

[More Banners]

Minny is....such a mess as a franchise...for so long...

The only way they seem to get talent is through the draft or trade.

Look to stack highest picks possible, not just the most, is what they really need, along with some emerging talent that they'll be happy to maybe not have to outright overpay to stick around.

I say we give them exactly that for KLove, and let them rebuild while we load up.

The only problem will be:  which Kevin will be my all time favorite Celtic PF?

And ironically, they all 3 will be connected through Minnesota.

[Eddie20]

Marc Stein

Flip Saunders' decision to name himself coach of the Timberwolves on Thursday will have no bearing on star Kevin Love's stance on his future in Minnesota, sources briefed on the situation told ESPN.com?s Marc Stein.

Love has made it clear to Wolves that he intends to opt out and become a free agent in July 2015 and that has not changed with Thursday?s announcement, according to Stein.

Sources reiterated to ESPN.com on Thursday that Saunders' move back to the bench will have no impact on Love's determination to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in 2015.

Saunders and Love have built a good relationship since Saunders replaced David Kahn as Minnesota's lead decision-maker, but sources say Love is determined to play for a contender after missing the playoffs in each of his first six NBA seasons. His concern, sources say, isn't who's coaching but the state of the roster.

ESPN.com reported earlier this month that Golden State and Chicago are two potential trade destinations that particularly intrigue Love in his quest to land with a team that can make some noise. The Rockets, Celtics, Knicks, Lakers and Suns are among the other teams, sources say, that have tried to engage the Wolves in exploratory trade talks.

[indeedproceed]

When the GM suddenly says, "I'm the coach now too", it's a lot more like the ship owner trying to take the wheel from the Titanic's captain at the last second before impact. You get the feeling the owner basically said to Saunders, "I'm not hiring a coach if Love is just gonna walk. You coach them, keep Love around, and you can keep your job."

Not happening.