After 16 seasons with the Timberwolves organization as VP of Basketball Operations and head coach Kevin McHale will not be asked back to the team.

 

"I would like to thank Kevin McHale for his many years of service to the Timberwolves organization," said Wolves owner Glen Taylor.

 

McHale drafted future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Garnett and led the Wolves to 8 straight playoff appearances, including the 2004 Western Conference Finals. The former Celtic was also embroiled in controversy after making a secret deal with free agent forward Joe Smith to circumvent the league's salary cap rules.

 

Smith agreed to sign three one-year contracts with the Timberwolves for less than his market value. In return, Smith received a promise that the Timberwolves would give him a multi-year contract down the line. Upon learning of the secret deal NBA Commissioner David Stern voided Smith's contract, took away three of the Timberwolves' next five first-round draft picks, and fined the team $3.5 million dollars. 

 

Minnesota struggled to excel with no young talent coming in from the draft.

 

In the 2005 season McHale fired his longtime friend Flip Saunders and briefly coached the Timberwolves. McHale would return to a coaching role in 2008.

 

Newly hired Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn decided that McHale's time was up in Minnesota.

 

"I have the deepest respect for Kevin McHale and his many accomplishments as a player, basketball executive and basketball coach--especially those that have occurred in the State of Minnesota," said Kahn.

 

Kahn sure has a funny way of showing respect. McHale is disappointed in the decision of Kahn and the T-Wolves.

 

"I was willing to come back, but they never offered me a contract," McHale said. "They told me last week they were going in a different direction. I said, 'I think you're making a mistake, but that's up to you guys.'"

 

McHale was a much better coach than a general manager. Timberwolves fans will remember him for trading Brandon Roy for Randy Foye. Just last year McHale drafted O.J. Mayo and promptly traded him for Kevin Love. His legacy also includes turning down several superior offers for Kevin Garnett in favor of sending KG to Boston for Al Jefferson and spare parts.

 

The Timberwolves made the best move ever. I suppose they will begin their coaching search now. For the sake of the fans I hope that they hire a player friendly coach to ease the minds of disappointed Timberwolves players.

 

Timberwolves forward Kevin Love leaked word of McHale's departure with a Twitter posting that read, "Today is a sad day."