Just when you thought it was safe to be not fired from the NBA coaching ranks, it happens. With three NBA coaches already out the door, the Minnesota Timberwolves have fired head coach Randy Wittman and replaced him with general manager Kevin McHale.
Confused? Honestly, I am as well. Wittman had a 38-105 record as the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach but it wouldn’t be fair to judge a coach whose best player through two seasons was Al Jefferson.
McHale took over for fired head coach Flip Saunders in 2004 and recorded a 19-12 as an interim coach. He will take over a team with a total of four wins. (In most years this would be last but the Oklahoma City Thunder just came into existence.)
McHale is noted for his trade of Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics to create the Boston three-party, the trade of Cassel to the Los Angeles Clippers, and the draft day trade fiascos. (Trading away Brandon Roy for Randy Foye and OJ Mayo for Kevin Love) He might be the Matt Millen of the NBA except for Elgin Baylor but since he retired, McHale held that title for this season at least.
Hopefully Minnesota will dig themselves out of the bottom of the barrel eventually (with four possible draft pick in the 2009 draft, they could.)Maybe Matt Millen, should have tried his hands at the coaching the Lions after all.
Kevin McHale head coach > Kevin McHale GM
