Who is Sachin Gupta, the new Timberwolves new VP of Basketball Operations?

Sachin Gupta is stepping in as the new VP of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with an interesting resume to dive into.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a shocking decision to part ways with Gersson Rosas on Wednesday. Some troubling behind-the-scenes details help explain the odd timing. In his place will step Sachin Gupta as the new VP of Basketball Operations. He had been second in command in the Timberwolves’ front office to Rosas since Rosas was hired in May of 2019.

Gupta shared roots with Rosas from their time working under Daryl Morey with the Houston Rockets. Gupta went on to work for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he was assistant general manager for the Detroit Pistons for one season before reuniting with Rosas in Minnesota.

Timberwolves VP Sachin Gupta has a unique resume

Gupta has a resume that makes him unique among NBA executives. He earned a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering degree from MIT, and he went on to earn an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He eventually went to work for ESPN.

While working for “Worldwide Leader” in 2006, Gupta developed the NBA Trade Machine for the ESPN website. It allows users to go through trade scenarios, and have them accepted or rejected based on salary cap, contract, luxury tax and other CBA restrictions. Many fans, writers and analysts have gotten a lot of tangible value, and/or wasted a lot of time, using the Trade Machine. Per Wikipedia, the idea for it was original that of Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsey’s son Chris. But Gupta is only one credited with developing the idea, allowing whoever wants to play amateur GM.

Gupta is lauded for his expertise in analytics and the NBA collective bargaining agreement, which he put to use in creating ESPN’s Trade Machine. That led to opportunities in team front offices, and now he’ll get his first chance to be the lead decision-maker with the Timberwolves.