A Change of Pace

Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
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Change often presents a varying degree of discomfort and excitement. The emotion is a direct reaction of the unknown.

For the first time in 15 years, a new decision maker will handle the basketball operations for a Wolves franchise in the midst of a blueprint plan that is focused on a return to the postseason. Former Indiana Pacers general manager David Kahn is the desired hire from a tireless search this offseason.

Related Audio Glen Taylor on the Kahn Hire Kahn Press Conference Part I Kahn Press Conference Part 2 Kahn Press Conference Part 3

"This is a milestone decision for our franchise and I couldn't be more excited by our choice," Wolves owner Glen Taylor said. "David has studied under one of the most storied basketball minds in the league in Donnie Walsh and has clearly demonstrated that he has the intelligence, creativity, leadership and passion to take our team to the next level."

The process of hiring the next president of basketball operations began with the Wolves seeking the expertise from a selected group of the most respected basketball minds in the league that included such luminaries as Jerry West, Donnie Walsh, Pat Riley, and Larry Brown.

To better illustrate this point, Charlotte Bobcats head coach Brown fully endorsed the hire, "I think the world of David. I've known him since we first crossed paths back at UCLA and I have nothing but admiration and respect for all that he's accomplished throughout his career. David will bring a tremendous background to the job, particularly from his time with Donnie at the Pacers. I've always had a fondness for the Timberwolves, and with the group of exciting young players they've assembled, I think they have a great opportunity in front of them. I'm thrilled that David is getting this chance and I think he'll do a phenomenal job."

The clear focus for Taylor was to take a diligent look at internal and external candidates to find a visionary that would contain all the qualities needed for an extremely important role on a professional sports team. A list was then developed of the rising stars in the sport, which led to a number of targets in a month-long search.

"We've worked hard over the last few seasons to put our team in a position to succeed, and I'm confident that with David's vision we'll continue that progress," Taylor reiterated.

Fortunately Kahn will inherit a team with strong assets for 2009 and the years to come. Not only do the Wolves own three first round picks for the June draft but will also have flexible cap space with the fourth lowest salary in the NBA. Al Jefferson is on the verge of reaching his first All-Star game, Kevin Love set the franchise rookie record for double-doubles, and Randy Foye proved to be a threat in the clutch in 2008-09. Minnesota will also welcome back Corey Brewer to the mix of young talent after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the early part of the year.

"Minnesota is a team on the rise and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to join the Timberwolves organization," Kahn added. "The team already has some significant pieces. I know Mr. Taylor is committed to building a playoff team and I look forward to working with him to put a plan in place that will allow the Timberwolves to achieve sustained success. I promise that nobody will outwork or outthink us as we build one of the best front offices in the league and a team that begins a climb to the top."

Wolves' fans most likely felt like they were on a proverbial roller coaster this past month in following the search after the season finale in mid April. Journalism practices have been forever changed with the increase of coverage and a competitive nature among reporters to snag the scoop. Any corporation or business must go through the standard interviewing practice. This process can be painstaking due to individual agendas, egos, and outside influences. The organization could not put the stamp of approval until a final agreement was reached.

Taylor found a new president of basketball operations that encompassed a diverse background seen in other sports. Several examples include Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, and Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane.

Morey took over as general manger for the Rockets in 2007. With a degree in computer science from Northwestern University, Morey quickly earned respect around the league for his ability to surround Yao Ming with the necessary talent to move out of the first round since 1996.

The non-traditional general manager hire in professional sports was validated by the exceptional success of Beane in Oakland. Beane earned high praise for the A's achievements despite one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball. Oakland benefited from this practice that was highlighted in the famous book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Beane found a way to compete in the land of financial giants, mainly Boston and New York.

Speaking of Boston, the Red Sox are led by Theo Epstein. The 36-year old wonderkid is another prime example of a highly successful general manager without a traditional baseball background. Epstein organized the first World Series championship in 86 years for the Red Sox with a law degree at the University of San Diego after graduating from Yale University.

Kahn fits both side of the coin. The experience of working for a perennial playoff organization from 1995 to 2004 is a key aspect to his impressive resume. Kahn helped engineer the Pacers 1998-99 first place finish in the Central Division with head coach Larry Bird at the helm. In that season, Indiana recorded a 33-17 mark in the lockout year before losing to New York in the Eastern Conference Finals.

"I'm very happy for David. He's a very intelligent guy and knows the ins and outs of this league as well as anyone," Bird said. "He has all the tools to get the job done in Minnesota."

The following year the Pacers reached the pinnacle for the franchise as the team vaulted to the 2000 NBA Finals. Los Angeles dispatched Indiana in six games but the Pacers handed the Lakers a lopsided 33-point defeat in game five.

In 2000-01, Indiana was forced to reconstruct after Bird retired. The Pacers did not suffer a major setback and bounced back with a 41-41 record including another trip to the postseason.

Under Kahn the Pacers pulled off a blockbuster trade that would eventually produce future All-Stars in Indiana. The team acquired Brad Miller and Ron Artest in a deal that sent Jalen Rose and Travis Best to Chicago. In a Pacers uniform, Miller reached the All-Star game in 2002-03 and Artest in 2003-04.

Before leaving Indiana in 2004, Kahn worked under Walsh, an esteemed member of the NBA community. Kahn spent the past five years as an owner of four NBA D-League teams.

"David helped me as much as anyone that I worked with during my time in Indiana, and his work with Conseco [Fieldhouse] made it the best building in the league," Walsh said. "David has a wealth of experience and will do a great job in Minnesota. He's very capable of capitalizing on the position the Timberwolves franchise is in and taking that team to the next level."

A brief glance into Kahn's background displays the well-rounded career that was so attractive during the hiring process. In the mid-80s, Kahn dipped his feet in the journalism field as a sportswriter and columnist for the Portland Oregonian out of UCLA. He decided to puncture through to the inside of sports by landing a position with a law firm in New York after earning a degree from NYU School of Law. Proskauer Rose is a firm that serves as a primary outside counsel to sports clients such as NBA commissioner David Stern and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Additionally, Kahn played an integral part of the widely popular pregame show, NBA Showtime on NBC Sports. During his time as a consultant, Kahn developed relationships with Bob Costas, Marv Albert, and Mike Fratello. The experience in the broadcast world will help Kahn understand the role of the media and deliver the message for the Wolves' franchise.

Important decisions are on the horizon for the Wolves this offseason. Kahn will assess the position of head coach, potential summer trades/acquisitions, and the draft on June 25. While change may feel uncomfortable at first, the new direction is the start of an exciting journey for Wolves fans with Kahn leading the pursuit of a spot back in the postseason.

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