Rick Adelman hasn’t announced whether he’ll return next season or retire, but all signs point to his coaching career coming to an end.
Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune reported on Thursday there is “zero” chance Adelman is back next season.
Assuming Adelman isn’t back, where will the Wolves look for a new head coach?
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, Minnesota’s ideal candidates include a pair of college coaches and one former, successful NBA coach.
Assuming Rick Adelman leaves, a source said Minnesota’s coaching wish list includes Tom Izzo, Fred Hoiberg and Stan Van Gundy.
Izzo is good friends with Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders, but the price tag to lure Izzo away from East Lansing is likely very high. Hoiberg previously coached in the Wolves’ front office, but he was just given a $600,000 raise at Iowa State.
Van Gundy has eight seasons of NBA head coaching experience. He coached the Miami Heat from 2003-2006 and the Magic from 2007-2012. His career record of 371-208 is bolstered by five seasons of 50+ wins.
Adelman’s potential exit is meaningful on more than the coaching level. Pro Basketball Talk’s Dan Feldman wrote that Minnesota’s new head coach will have to be someone Kevin Love likes if the Wolves have any hope of re-signing the All-Star power forward.
The Adelman watch is on, but as of today he’s still the head coach.
