Randy Pfund drops out of Wolves GM race
As one local newspaper columnist observed, when a job with the Wolves is less appealing than being unemployed, something’s a bit frightening at Target Center. Glen Taylor had hoped his search for a new GM to fill the spot left vacant by Kevin McHale when McHale took over the coaching position would be over in “a couple weeks.” The search is now nearing a month and former Miami Heat GM Randy Pfund is the latest to withdraw his name from consideration, preferring to stay unemployed rather than manage the Wolves.
It’s widely believed Taylor wants to hire an outside man, but one who will agree to: a) Let Kevin McHale decide all by himself whether to return as coach, with no pressure from the new GM one way or another, and; b) Keep GM-in-training Fred Hoiberg on as his assistant.
Asking any new GM to take on that much baggage from a failed past is a steep request, so it’s no wonder both Dennis Lindsay of the Spurs and now the unemployed Randy Pfund have said, “No thanks” to the Wolves opportunity.
Now the search seems to be focusing in on Portland’s Tom Penn and Indiana’s David Kahn; both are cap experts and contracts guys, which would allow Taylor to foist Hoiberg on them as a strong number-two guy. Of course, Taylor could always just go ahead and elevate Hoiberg from within; if that’s the announcement after all this, one will have to wonder why Taylor took so long to make an obvious internal choice while cleaning area rugs with all the other candidates going in and out of Target Center? Maybe because Hoiberg isn’t quite ready?
Time will tell.
