What NBA owners want for their team, NBA owners usually get.
So when Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke to ESPN 1500 and local television guy Darren Wolfson about what is going to happen in Minnesota with Flip Saunders being out to start the season as he battles cancer, we should pay attention. And what Taylor expects is not a big change in the system under Sam Mitchell.
(con.) Taylor said he believes Mitchell will run 90% of Flip's systems, 10% his own. "Flip has put the system in," Taylor said. #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) September 16, 2015
Whoever is coaching the Timberwolves this season, it will be one of adjustments and system tweaks. Minnesota has a lot of interesting young pieces — Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio, Shabazz Muhammad — not to mention Kevin Garnett and Andre Miller for veteran presence. The question is what combinations and what styles best suit this group. It should be a season of experimentation in Minnesota — and it should be entertaining.
Also, don’t expect the Timberwolves to trade Anthony Bennett anytime soon.
(con.) Taylor on a presumption a Bennett trade is coming: "We shouldn't assume he'd go... Anthony has had a good summer." #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) September 16, 2015
The fact Anthony had a good summer is why there are trade rumors — fans want to sell high, and the front office would be smart to gauge the market. But playing well in FIBA Americas is not suddenly going to make Bennett a hot commodity on the trade market, the level of play there is more than a couple steps below NBA level. Other teams will be patient, so will the Timberwolves.