5 offseason needs for the Minnesota Timberwolves

1. Figure out who the coach will be, with a thorough search

In the natural order of things, Minnesota’s new president of basketball operations will be given full authority to hire the new coach with little or no influence from Taylor. There’s an immediate sense Ryan Saunders (and general manager/Thibodeau holdover Scott Layden) will be retained, but Taylor has to give his new front office lead the ability to clean the slate if they wish.

The next Timberwolves’ coach would ideally fit a couple of criteria, with one far more important than the other. Towns should be allowed to give a stamp of approval as the most important person in the franchise, within reason of course, and if said coach can somehow reach Wiggins that would be a nice bonus.

For what it’s worth, former Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies’ coach (and Minnesota native) Dave Joerger seems to want the Timberwolves’ job. Rumored conflict with a couple of notably dysfunctional front offices aside, Joerger has also shown adaptability, going from the “Grit and Grind” style in Memphis to a faster-paced, more modern approach that seemed to unlock the Kings this past season.

Promoting Saunders is a nice idea, and it’s worth wondering what he could do with a fully healthy roster that he never had after taking over for Thibodeau. But a full coaching search has to be coming, not just a couple cursory interviews before Saunders is given the permanent post.