<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Although they were almost always painted as good friends because they played college ball together, Flip Saunders didn't have that close of a relationship with Minnesota VP Kevin McHale when Saunders coached the Timberwolves for the past decade. Now, whatever friendship the two had promises to become strained, if not completely lost. McHale has quietly sent out word that he wants draft choices from the next team that hires Saunders. McHale thinks that Minnesota is entitled to compensation because Saunders had a year left on his contract when he was fired this season. But Saunders thinks he should be free to coach elsewhere and reportedly is miffed by McHale's demands. Saunders believes it will cause teams to drop him from consideration. Saunders interviewed for the Cleveland job, which was a natural since he was born there and still has family living there. But if he doesn't end up coaching LeBron James, it won't be because of the compensation issue. Sources say that Saunders came away from talks with Dan Gilbert thinking that the new Cavs owner has a lot to learn and whomever he hires is going to have to endure some growing pains. That's the same impression that Jackson got when he talked to Gilbert, prompting Jackson to cross the Cavs off his list, too.</div> Source
I am not sure what credibility Mitch Lawrence has because he tends to embellish it, but if it's true, it would be pretty low. I know the Wolves need draft picks so McHale is trying to use Flip as his advantage, but it would be dirty to screw Flip on what he wants to do the most. It's bad enough the Timberwolves humiliated Flip by making him a scrapegoat even though it was not his fault. Now McHale wants to try this. Tha'ts dissapointing.
I think it is a bold move by Mchale. He knows, if this is true, that he is going to take alot of slack from those who surport Flip Suanders, but he doesnt care. He is looking to cash in for the T-wolves franchise, that Flip Suanders is probably #2 on everybodies available coaching list after Phil Jackson. And I dont blame him one bit. Sports is a underhanded business. And at the end of the day winning, especially when you take about in the mind of a gm, is the only thing that counts. And right now the Wolves have little cap space to work with even after letting Sprewell walk, so for the next couple of years the only way they will get better is thru the draft. So if Mchale sees an opportunity to obtain more picks either this year or for the future, why not? The only Mchale should be hesistant about is how does such a bold move look toward future coaching candiates during the offseason? If I am a highly sought after coach, I might be a little hesistant about coaching under T-wolves mangement after such a move. I might feel that if things go south and me & the Wolves have to part ways, then they may try to put up road blocks from me moving on...that may hurt the Wolves if they had any interest in big name coaches. But other then that I dont see anything wrong with Mchale's decsion to do such a move...its the business of basketball
Exactly, you said it, it's a business. Sure, Flip had some great years here, but he is gone, and why not ask for draft picks? It's a smart move. I don't really blame McHale, though, it seems a bit dirty.
No, this is a very dirty thing for McHale to pull. I understand that he is trying to better the team, but the key thing here is: He wanta picks from the team that signs Flip. Flip isn't worth that to anybody so as the article states, it makes it near impossible to get a new job. Flip was fired because he was the targeted scapegoat, and now his friend is screwing him over and preventing him from getting a new job. Now, is that really just a little dirty?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KG-MVP:</div><div class="quote_post">No, this is a very dirty thing for McHale to pull. I understand that he is trying to better the team, but the key thing here is: He wanta picks from the team that signs Flip. Flip isn't worth that to anybody so as the article states, it makes it near impossible to get a new job. Flip was fired because he was the targeted scapegoat, and now his friend is screwing him over and preventing him from getting a new job. Now, is that really just a little dirty?</div> I dont know about impossible, Flip is like a top 2 or 3 coach available this year, Phil Jackson is probably the only coach with more crediblity available in a year where there will be alot of openings. I think that it might prevent him from getting certain jobs, like probably the Knick opening cause they are not going to give up any of their picks for now or the near future cause they are a old team that needs to get younger thru the draft, due to their horrible cap situation. But a team like Cleveland, if they were interested in Flip probably would give up a couple of future picks(not this year tho..) to obtain Flip. They are already a pretty young team that just needs the proper direction, Flip has the experience of handling a phenom striaght out of high school, so they might be willing because with the right coaching they wont be in the lotto anymore after this year. So the picks they would be giving up would meanless to them.
I'm going to have to agree with Henacy and Jay on this one. McHale isn't really caring about feelings right now. Right now, he wants a winning team, and more draft picks could help that. Sure, it's not the nice thing to do, but in business, nice isn't always how you roll. Also, I don't think teams would have trouble giving up a pick or two for Saunders. He is a great coach, the second highest regarded on the Market right now. I think it's a smart move by McHale. Once again, it may not be nice, but, that's how it goes.
Strangly, yes. He [Saunders] still had one year left on his contract, so he is technically ours. To me, trading a coach is odd. It seems strange, but it can be done. Pretty soon we'll start trading our cheerleaders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure:</div><div class="quote_post">Strangly, yes. He [Saunders] still had one year left on his contract, so he is technically ours. To me, trading a coach is odd. It seems strange, but it can be done. Pretty soon we'll start trading our cheerleaders.</div> for the lakers cheerleaders? agreed!
Saunders should be able to coach where he wants without the team having to compensate the Wolves for it. Why? Because he got fired. It was Minnesota's decision to let him go despite having one more year on his contract. It wasn't as if Flip quit on them with one year left, they let him go. I'm sure Flips agent can find a contractual out for him here.
kingrex hit it on the nail IMO. If a player is waived by his team and signs on with another, there is no compensations that his new team has to pay to his old one. Why should this be any different? If McHale really wants to pursue that pick, I'm afraid he'll have to go sue Flip's new team, but that court case definitely won't be a pretty one for him.
Look at the NFL they give first round picks out all the time for coachs...the buccaneers did to get John ruden from the raiders a few years back
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kingrex:</div><div class="quote_post">Saunders should be able to coach where he wants without the team having to compensate the Wolves for it. Why? Because he got fired. It was Minnesota's decision to let him go despite having one more year on his contract. It wasn't as if Flip quit on them with one year left, they let him go. I'm sure Flips agent can find a contractual out for him here.</div> Actually he was not fired, he was demoted, and just never showed up for the position. He's still under contract with the TWolves, and teams still need to ask permission before they can even talk to Flip. The Blazers reportedly offered him $8Million a year to coach there. I doubt Portland gives up any picks for him, especially this year, but they might consider giving up future considerations to bring Flip aboard.
Yeah, I think McHale has the right to do what he did. Flip has a year left on his contract, and he's essentially getting millions for doing nothing during the next year. We should all be that lucky. He should just enjoy his time off, and go job hunting the following year. There might be better coaching opportunities right now, but he can't pursue them unless the T-Wolves decide to nullify the contract. As an employee under contract, he has to accept the restriction.
Yeah exactly. He got payed millions for doing nuthin, and really, doing less than expected. I think that would help the wolves out a lot if we got any kind of pick for flip! If he went to portland, we would get the 35 pick! If he went to the magic, we would get the 41st or 44th. If he went to clevland, we would get nothing till next year. That would be pretty cooL!
