Reactions to the David Kahn hire

Here’s a roundup of reactions to the David Kahn hire from around the Internet:

John Hollinger, ESPN.com:  Typical bumbling Wolves move — couldn’t convince anyone else to take the job and finally settled on a guy they had originally discarded because they were running out of time before the draft. Oh, and McHale will probably have the owner’s ear on personnel even though he’s theoretically been ousted. Have fun, Minnesota.

Jim Souhan, Star Tribune:  Kahn brings … what? A close, personal relationship with commissioner David Stern?

Kahn is blessed to be joining an organization that has little choice but to grant him the power to effect change. There are two problems with this: 1) We don’t know if Taylor is capable of backing away and letting his new hire operate, and 2) We don’t know if Kahn is capable of rebuilding a dysfunctional franchise.

Sid Hartman, Star Tribune:  Kahn, 47, apparently was the Wolves’ fourth choice and hasn’t been a GM since 2002. Recently, he has owned National Basketball Development teams and led an unsuccessful effort to lure the Montreal Expos to Portland.

The challenge the Wolves presented was too great for those who turned down the job and who no doubt felt they were better off staying put and waiting for another opportunity.

Tom Powers, Pioneer Press:  Acting quickly and decisively, Glen Taylor hired David Kahn to be the Minnesota Timberwolves general manager before Kahn had a chance to withdraw his name from consideration.

Kahn was believed to be the only external candidate remaining. The other three came to the conclusion that they weren’t interested. That’s what you get for dragging your feet, Mr. Kahn. Now you’re stuck.

Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh:  I’ve never really worked directly with him (in the front office), but he was here when I was coaching. I know he’s a very intelligent man. He knows how the league works. I always thought he would be a great GM or whatever his title is because he’s got a lot of knowledge. It’s very positive for Minnesota. – Bird

These things can’t be done overnight, but if you start doing the right things, I think good things will happen. I haven’t been there so I don’t know what was done in the past, but I know David will do a good job and see what needs to be done and overcome what’s stopping them. – Walsh

Canis Hoopus:  Oh well, more of the same from our favorite underachieving, underwhelming local professional sports franchise.

At least we’re not the Clippers, or Grizz, or Wiz. But we’ve dropped a couple of steps down toward their level.

OKC, you looking for fans? Seattle, how’s that new arena coming along?

Britt Robson:  At least two of them, San Antonio’s Dennis Lindsey and Portland’s Tom Penn, had on-the-surface credentials and temperament that made me more excited for their arrival than what I’m feeling for Kahn. The guy hasn’t even been in the NBA since 2004.

Nevertheless, there’s no sense in being totally down and negative about Kahn until we see what he can do. I’m going to the press conference this Friday noon mostly just to get a feeling for the guy. I’m thinking that what owner Glen Taylor has to say for himself will be the more informative “news” of the day. Will Kahn have the ability to determine the fate of his personnel guy and his coach? If so, why didn’t Lindsey or Penn take the job? Taylor must know that his franchise is fostering a reputation for dysfunction, and his frequent contradictory statements about whether or not Kevin McHale can determine his own future with the ballclub, and whether the Hoiberg/Stack/Babcock crew who have been evaluating talent all these months under the much-hyped blueprint are going to be around to provide input when the Wolves utilize a bevy of draft picks in just a few short weeks.

TalkHoops:  They couldn’t get anyone because Glen Taylor doesn’t know how to own a successful basketball franchise. We watched for a decade while he kept Kevin McHale around instead of finding someone who could figure out how to put winning talent around one of the most talented big men to ever grace the court. We watched while KG’s prime was wasted because he had to drag guys like Dean Garrett and Trenton Hassell (no offense, Trenton. I did like you but c’mon, you know what you are) around while trying to wade through the busted draft picks of Paul Grant, William Avery, and Ndubi Ebi who happened to break up the years of not having a draft pick at all due to an illegal deal under the table with Joe Freaking Smith.  And how are we repaid for this loyalty?

With David Kahn.

We’re repaid with a retread guy who spent nine years with the Pacers and hasn’t been back in the league for seven years. What has he been doing during that time? He’s been flipping D-League franchises like it was an infomercial on how to make an extra $10,000 a month from the comfort of your own home. He’s been trying to get baseball to the city of Portland. He’s been an owner and operator of D-League teams that coaches don’t want to coach for and interns avoid because he’s supposedly the biggest dick in all of basketball. He’s crippled franchises financially in order to put a few extra bucks in his pocket for a developmental league that is desperate for competent owners to help grow a minor league system for the NBA – a league that he is now running a team in.

And you know who suffers? Wolves fans and their players.