Sports Radio Interviews

T’Wolves President David Kahn Is Certifiably Insane

Yesterday on SRI  I wrote how I hoped Jonny Flynn, my favorite player in the draft, got drafted into a good situation where he’d get lots of playing time.  The draft was less than an hour old when Flynn was the second straight point guard (after Ricky Rubio) that David Kahn and the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted.  I felt a pit in my stomach knowing that Flynn may never have the career he’s capable of because of his circumstances.  Kahn’s draft puzzled every person talking or writing about the draft.  The initial thought was he’s trading one of them, but he was adamant that they can play together successfully in the backcourt.  I don’t see it.  (Now reports are that Rubio doesn’t want to play in Minnesota and will stay overseas for a few more years)

I may be getting soft as I get older, but the draft last night had a weird effect on me.  I honestly started feeling bad for many of these kids drafted.  Guys like Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, and Darren Collison who I think can be effective starters in the league may never get to fulfill their potential playing behind guys like Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul. There’s just not enough minutes for them on those teams.  I also empathized with DeJuan Blair who had a Big Baby like plunge on draft day.  I totally understand how Bill Simmons thinks he could do a better job than some GM’s.  Guys get drafted while averaging five points a game in the Euroleague while Blair dominated the best conference in college hoops and never missed a game or practice yet gets red flagged for past injuries.  Just sickening. 

Anyway, I’ve played hoops at the JCC like Kahn (he mentioned it during his draft interview) so I’m probably as qualified as him to make draft picks.  Kahn joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss his thinking behind his draft picks.  He’s eating up all these interviews he’s doing as he’s constantly cracking one liners in an effort to make DP laugh.

On his thought process behind picking back-to-back point guards:

“Here’s what our thinking was on this pick:  first of all we love Jonny Flynn.  This kid in a different way than Ricky Rubio has electricity crackling out of him.  Here’s my feeling on NBA drafts, I can’t speak about any other sport…if you’re sitting at 5 and 6, you darn well better take people who you feel have a chance (and I underline the word chance) to be great.  You do not take people who you don’t believe have a chance to be great.”

“I already know what the follow up question to this is, “are you saying that Steph Curry for example doesn’t have a chance to be great.”  Not saying that, he might be great, but remember (I’m getting a kick out of this today) all draft season Steph, his father Dell who I respect, his agent kept saying…Steph’s a point guard, Steph’s a point guard, Steph’s a point guard.  So if we had taken Steph Curry, we’d have taken another point guard.  So the point I’m making is we think the fight between Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn is a much better fit for us.”

Has he received trade offers yet for either of his new point guards?

“Two calls already this morning and last night and again out of respect I’m not going to say which team it was…basically said take this player off of our roster and pick any two players you want. (Patrick:  For who?)  For the fifth pick.  I know the interest in Jonny is tremendous.

On taking Ty Lawson (even though he traded him):

“But wasn’t that funny.  Did you see Roy Williams on the screen?  We had several offers and we knew we were trading it.  We had at least 8 teams lined up to take 18.  It was really fun to do that. We don’t know the player they’re going to take.  They don’t tell you the player they’re going to take and they shouldn’t.  You’re the one that has to make the pick. So they say please take Ty Lawson.  To hear Ty Lawson and see that picture of Roy Williams, for about two minutes we were laughing so hard.”

What are the odds Rubio is playing for you next year:

“I don’t know that. I respect Dan Fegan (Rubio’s agent), he’s tough and tenacious and one of the best in our business and he will get this done.  Dan called me right before we made the pick and I told Dan if there’s a team out there, we’re the team that can wait…what does it hurt us to wait a year.  We’re not in a position we’re contending next year, maybe probably for two years.  We’ll wait, we’ll be patient.  We can do that.  In two years, not saying it’s going to be two years, he’ll be 20.  We’re not getting some old man here.  I don’t know what the odds are.  It will be a very turbulent summer here up and down , but  I think ultimately he’ll be a Minnesota Timberwolf  and I’m very, very excited about it.”

Listen to David Kahn on The Dan Patrick Show

Tags: David Kahn, Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Timberwolves draft, NBA Draft, Ricky Rubio