The Minnesota Timberwolves coaching search could be coming to an end.
Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger met with Timberwolves President Flip Saunders on Thursday and is expected to meet with team owner Glenn Taylor, this weekend.
Yahoo! Sports reports that a league source said Taylor needs to get a better feel for Joerger before the Wolves hire him. According to the report, Taylor has been an advocate of former Toronto coach and Wolves player Sam Mitchell, who interviewed for the job last week.
Sources tell ESPN.com that Minnesota’s bid to hire Joerger as the new head coach have made “significant progress.”
Ronald Tillery, Grizzlies beat writer for the Commercial Appeal, reports that Minnesota is expected to offer the job to Joerger.
Commercial Appeal is a pay site, but the info was unlocked by Hoops Rumors.
It is believed the Timberwolves will offer their head coaching job to Joerger, according to Tillery, even though The Commercial Appeal scribe notes Taylor’s reported preference for Mitchell (subscription-only link).
The Star Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda broke the Joerger-to-Minnesota potential on Wednesday when he reported the Grizzlies granted Minnesota permission to interview Joerger, a native of Staples, Minnesota.
Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick tweeted that the fact that the meeting will take place today. Adrian Wojnarowski added that the “process could move fast.”
Acquiring Joerger would require the Wolves to provide the Grizzlies compensation in the form of a draft pick(s) and/or cash. Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press reports the compensation won’t be an issue unless the Grizzlies play hardball.
Unless Memphis plays hardball, compensation for Joerger will not be an issue for Wolves.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) May 22, 2014
Another candidate for the job seems to be former Timberwolves forward and head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Sam Mitchell.
Right now the top 2 candidates in Wolves race are Dave Joerger and Sam Mitchell. Can't see Glen Taylor vetoing a recommendation from Flip
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) May 21, 2014
Mitchell played for the Wolves from 1989-1992 and 1995-2002. He took the Raptors to the playoffs twice over parts of five seasons, and in 2007 he was named the NBA’s coach of the year. He was fired in 2010.
1500 ESPN reporter Darren Wolfson thinks that Mitchell could be hired as part of Joerger’s staff if the Wolves decide to go with Joerger after he meets with Taylor.
W/ agent connection, Mitchell will be in the mix to join Joerger's staff, if/when he lands w/ #Twolves. Would be a popular/interesting pick.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 22, 2014
