Rick Adelman can add his name to the list of potential suitors for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching vacancy.
According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda, Adelman will interview for the vacant position Saturday with David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor.
Adelman previously coached the Portland Trail Blazers from 1988-1993, the Golden State Warriors from 1995-1997, most notably the Sacramento Kings from 1999-2006, and finally the Houston Rockets from 2007-2011.
Adelman became a familiar name in Minnesota as the coach of the Kings during the Wolves epic seven-game series with Sacramento back in the 2004 Western Conference semi-finals. A series that ended with the Wolves winning game seven 83 to 80.
While Adelman is interviewing, it doesn’t necessarily mean he would accept the job if offered.
But what would be the draw for Adelman to Minnesota?
For one, the ability to coach again after being let go in Houston after this past season in favor of former Wolves head coach Kevin McHale.
Secondly– as Zgoda writes– Adelman is extremely familiar with the Wolves best player, Kevin Love. Per Zgoda’s report:
Love and Adelman’s son played on the same Lake Oswego, Ore.,high school team and Adelman saw nearly every game Love played during his senior season when he was in between jobs with the Kings and Rockets.
A talented, familiar face such as Love’s, could be a sticking point in bringing Adelman to Minnesota. While at the same time bringing familiarity towards Love may be the final ploy in getting Love to reach a long-term deal to stay in Minnesota.
Adelman won’t be cheap. I would expect him to ask from 3.5 to 4 million dollars per year if in fact he was inclined to accept the position as the first coach after the Kurt Rambis era in Minnesota.
Adelman would be a nice fit in the up-tempo style that Kahn is striving for this Wolves team to play. His Kings teams in the early 2000’s were accustom to getting up and down the floor at a high pace.
Nonetheless, Adelman is a popular name that would instantly bring notoriety to the Timberwolves franchise.
-Brett Cloutier
Brett is a contributor to The Sports Bank as beat writer for the Minnesota Timberwolves. You can follow him on Twitter @brettcloutier