NBA Rumors: Do Timberwolves players want Sam Mitchell fired?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the rise, but the young roster isn’t really digging playing for head coach Sam Mitchell. 

It has been a season full of hope for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it’s one that hasn’t yielded the growth that seemed to be on the cusp. The sudden death of Flip Saunders before the season took away a man who had a clear vision for this team and Sam Mitchell hasn’t been able to follow in his footsteps. Mitchell hasn’t been atrocious as a head coach in Minnesota, but it’s growing apparent that if this young roster of talent is going to be fully realized, then Mitchell needs to go.

In fact, Mitchell is already losing the locker room — a telltale sign that his days in Minneapolis are numbered.

According to a report from Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press, the young Timberwolves players are losing faith in Sam Mitchell and don’t seem very happy to be playing in his tough love system. Specifically, Krawczynski quoted defending Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine, who used the word ‘unfair’ to ride the system.

"“It’s not fun. Sometimes unfair,” LaVine said. “But he’s the coach, I’m the player and sometimes that’s what you have to deal with. You can’t really do anything about it but play good on the court.”"

David Blatt lost his locker room in Cleveland throughout the course of this season — and now it’s Tyronn Lue’s locker room. Blatt was under differences circumstances than Mitchell is in Minnesota, but there is equal pressure to get thins right. Where the Cavs need to win a title, the Wolves need to make sure they don’t squander a chance to crawl out of the basketball boneyard with this young roster they have.

For the first time in years, the Wolves are actually an attractive place for a big name head coach to want to come and even for free agents to want to consider signing. This is an absolutely critical period in the development of the Wolves roster and Mitchell doesn’t appear to be the guy for the job.

Then again, Minnesota can never have nice things in the world of sports — so this is almost too perfect.