TWolves Interviewing PJ Carlisimo?

[Evilmav2]

Wolves interview Carlesimo about job

Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune
May 28, 2005 WOLF0528

The Timberwolves are believed to have had representatives in San Antonio on Friday to interview P.J. Carlesimo about their head coaching vacancy.

A source close to the team said that the Wolves possibly could offer Carlesimo, a Spurs assistant coach, the position this weekend. But that could not be confirmed.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor, reached at home late Friday, declined to comment. Previously, Taylor had indicated he was interested in talking with Carlesimo about the Wolves' opening. But while he and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale were able to conduct phone and face-to-face interviews with other candidates, Carlesimo's schedule was trickier -- the Spurs still are active in the postseason, facing Phoenix in the Western Conference championship series that continues tonight in San Antonio.

The Wolves are seeking a new head coach for the first time since December 1995; Flip Saunders was fired in February after a 25-26 start to what was billed as a championship-caliber season. McHale finished the regular season as coach, going 19-12. But the Wolves missed the playoffs, ending a streak of eight consecutive appearances.

Carlesimo has been on the staff of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for three seasons.

He previously worked as an NBA head coach in Portland (1994-97) and at Golden State (1997-2000), after a long college career that included six trips to the NCAA tournament and a Coach of the Year award in 12 years at Seton Hall.

His greatest fame came in December 1997 with the Warriors, when guard Latrell Sprewell reacted to criticism from Carlesimo by choking the coach during a practice. Carlesimo eventually was fired with a 46-113 record at Golden State and has been in a sort of NBA exile, waiting for another chance.

When the Spurs played at Target Center in the 2004-05 regular-season finale, Carlesimo said he would be interested in the Wolves opening. "No question I would," he said. "But the time is horrible right now, with the playoffs. You'd hope there's some interest and that they're willing to wait until after the playoffs."

Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford, that same evening, said of Carlesimo: "People would be making a mistake if they didn't consider him. He's been a real strong presence for us. Some people judge him by the way things went in Golden State, and that's unfair. We all grow."

Earlier this month, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle also endorsed Carlesimo as a top candidate for one of the many NBA head coaching vacancies. "Something is going to happen this year," Carlisle, an assistant under Carlesimo in Portland, told the New York Post. "I've been hearing his name a lot, and a couple of different organizations have called me to ask about him. He deserves a chance, not because he's a great guy but because he's a great coach."

The New York Knicks also are believed to have interest in Carlesimo for their coaching vacancy.

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[fin4life]

i cannot imagine spreewell and carlisimo on the same team.

If Carlisimo is the coach.... Spree is definetly gone.

[cheesestar]

*CHOKE*CHOKE*CHOKE*CHOKE*

[4cwebb]

With a guy like KG on the roster, you'd think the Twolves would have their pick of coaches, and not have to settle (at least imho) for a guy like Carlisimo. I'm of the opinion that the dude has had two shots, and he didn't do much to distinguish himself in either of those chances, and now KG's going to get on board with this (I'm assuming he's got some say in this whole process --- if he doesn't, I think that's a bit of a mistake on the part of the Twolves).

[MavKikiNYC]

I'm of the opinion that the dude has had two shots, and he didn't do much to distinguish himself in either of those chances,...

Maybe he can become President of the NYKs.

[birdsanctuary]

Guess that means Spree is gone!

[ddh33]

I always thought PJ should have gotten another gig. It's unfortunate that he was the guy people avoided after the Spree incident because he can coach. He'd be a good choice there...

And the Spree thing is irrelevant in this case because Spree was never coming back to that team.