The Minnesota Timberwolves need a new coach and as the Kevin Love trade rumors to the Lakers, Knicks and everywhere else continues, Billy Donovan, Tom Izzo, Fred Hoiberg, George Karl and Jeff Van Gundy have emerged as names Flip Saunders may consider when looking for the next head coach for the Wolves for 2014-15 after Rick Adelman retired.
The Timberwolves missed the playoffs for the third straight season under Adelman and Adelman decided to retire after his third year with the team after signing a four-year deal previously. Adelman is a great coach and has over 1,000 wins to his name and he also is eighth all-time after working with the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, but he decided it was time to step down and this could be the opportunity that Saunders needs to keep Love.
Kevin Love is the next Dwight Howard or Carmelo Anthony situation to play out, as he can opt out of his deal after next season, meaning teams may try to trade for him before that. Love has expressed his respect and 'love' playing for the Wolves, but he also understands that the team is not a championship contender as constructed and unless the team makes some major moves, he is likely gone the first chance he gets, even though the Wolves technically can offer him the most money.
The first move for Saunders is to find a new head coach and according to ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein, Donovan, Tom Izzo, Fred Hoiberg, George Karl and Van Gundy all could be in the mix for the job. Now would any of those names keep Love in Minnesota? That remains to be seen, but if the team can sway someone like Donovan or Izzo to take over, it could make a difference. Both coaches have been wooed by NBA teams, with Donovan nearly taking the Magic job before deciding against it years ago, but now that both have had sustained success in college, it might be time to move on.
Saunders' relationship with Izzo is well known and despite Donovan getting a raise from Florida in March, he could bolt again for the NBA as well. Hoiberg has gained some traction after the way his team has performed over the past few years, while Karl has been on the sidelines waiting for another job since leaving the Nuggets last year during that turnover in the franchise for Brian Shaw.
Last season Love was tops again with 26 points and 12 rebounds and he is a double-double machine and one of the best players in the NBA. The team has not made the playoffs in a decade and that hasn't helped matters with Love, but it remains to be seen what the team will do at head coach. The Lakers and Knicks both want Love badly and this season could see a deal go down if he expresses his desire to leave. Love has been putting up monster numbers over the past two seasons and teams will be working this offseason to get their caps right for him to sign afetr next year, if it gets to that.
