Cassell backs criticism of Wolves’ leadership

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 12/07/2005

Says Garnett should have spoken sooner

 

It was just a few days ago that Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett questioned the leadership of Team Vice President Kevin McHale. Last year, the Timberwolves were expected to challenge for an NBA Championship. What they did was collapse; they failed to even make the playoffs and fired all-time franchise winning coach Flip Saunders.

 

McHale fired his buddy Saunders and then took over as coach, but he could not salvage the issues of bickering players and uninspired performances. Currently, the Timberwolves are off to a fast start at 9-6 and lead the Northwest Division under new Head Coach Dwane Casey.

 

Expectations are much different this season than last, and there are a lot of new faces and plenty of empty seats at Target Center to prove it. Garnett, the former MVP who has twice signed contracts topping $100 million, did not question McHale for signing him.

 

However, he said he believed Saunders wouldn’t have been fired if the front office had settled the contract squabbles of Latrell Sprewell and all-star guard Sam Cassell. Both players were key starters in the franchise’s best 58-win season of 2003-2004, with former all-star Wally Szczerbiak coming off the bench as sixth man.

 

That team reached the Western Conference Finals. Both players felt the organization owed them because until they arrived the Timberwolves had never advanced beyond the first round.

 

“McHale wanted in his heart to coach, but he didn’t want the responsibility of being a coach,” Garnett said. Kevin has a very, very high basketball IQ, but managing egos and things, I don’t think he wants to do that. “Last year, it was pure hell for me. It was a circus,” Garnett said.

 

Sprewell, playing the last year of his contract, turned down a three-year, $21 million deal from the Timberwolves. He and Cassell sulked all season, and the season turned into a nightmare.

 

Both players, like Coach Saunders, are now gone. Sprewell is currently not playing, and Cassell was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Marko Jaric. Cassell has helped the Clippers become the best team in LA with an 11-5 record and two wins over his former teammates.

 

When asked about Garnett’s comments, Cassell responded, “Everything he said was accurate. One problem — Garnett should have stepped up and said it last year. Wally Szczerbiak threatened everyone that he wanted out if he did not start last year.

 

“We won 58 games, reached the Western Conference Finals, best team in franchise history, and they [McHale and Saunders] didn’t start the same group the next year. That’s what happened,” Cassell said. “I’m happy in Los Angeles. Elton Brand is like K.G. — he’s a prime-time player, and he has welcomed me in, and so far we’re going pretty good.”

 

Saunders, now the head coach in Detroit, has the Pistons playing well in the Eastern Conference with the NBA’s best record at 13-2.

 

 

Fitz Notes & Quotes

 

Former Gophers basketball star Bill Duffy is one of the NBA’s top player agents. Among his top players are NBA MVP Steve Nash of Phoenix, Houston’s Yao Ming, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, Teshawn Prince of Detroit, and the Timberwolves’ Michael Olowokandi and Marko Juric.

 

The Vikings, winners of five straight games since quarterback Brad Johnson replaced injured Daunte Culpepper, are number one in the NFL in forcing turnovers the last five weeks. Johnson’s career record as a starter is 63-41; Culpepper’s is 38-42.