Last week, NBA.com reported that Flip Saunders will replace David Kahn as the president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On Thursday, word from the Timberwolves that the team has declined to pick up Kahn’s contract:
#Twolves announce team has declined 1-yr option in David Kahn's contract, thus he will not return as President of Basketball Ops.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) May 2, 2013
Flip Saunders confirms to me that he has signed multi-year agreement to become Pres of Bball operations, minority owner of Wolves.
— Dan Barreiro (@DanBarreiroKFAN) May 3, 2013
Saunders will be formally introduced during a 10:30 a.m. press conference Friday.
Team owner Glen Taylor issued a statement thanking Kahn for his four years of service.
“These are always difficult decisions,” Taylor wrote. “But at this time, we believe it is in the best interest of our organization to make a change. We wish David all the best in the future.”
Kahn told KFAN-FM 100.3 that he accepts blame for all of the team’s failures over the last four seasons.
“It has been a very challenging environment for all of us,” Kahn said, referring to the spate of injuries the team has dealt with the past 14 months. “It’s not enough to be entertaining … you have to win.”
As for the Timberwolves’ immediate future, Kahn was optimistic: “It’s young, it’s deep, it’s talented.
According to reporter John Krawczynski,“Taylor is also putting the finishing touches on a deal to hire Saunders as Kahn’s replacement. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.”
