Bernie Bickerstaff approached by Minnesota Timberwolves for the head coaching position – NBA Update
The Minnesota Timberwolves have approached Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff to replace Kurt Rambis as the team’s head coach. Rambis is yet to be officially fired by the Timberwolves, but the fact that he will not be head coach next season is well established.
Timberwolves have asked the Portland management for permission to interview their assistant coach. The Trail Blazers confirmed the news and have also granted Minnesota’s request.
Bernie Bickerstaff has a wealth of experience in the game and over the years, he has been associated with basketball in many different capacities, including working in the front office. He has had a total number of 5 head coaching stints with four different NBA teams in his career, the last of which was at the Charlotte Bobcats from 2004-to-2007.
A return to head coaching could prove to be tempting for the veteran trainer, although current Portland head coach Nate McMillan believes otherwise,
"Bernie's been (a head coach) before," McMillan told reporters "So we'll see what happens. I don't want to speak for Bernie, but I know he's extremely happy with Portland and being here working with me. He's said time and time again he likes where we are and what we're doing. It's going to have to be something really attractive to go."
McMillan did concede that if Bernie did decide to go to Minnesota he will be a great asset to that franchise,
"He's seen so many different systems and worked with so many different coaches. He's been a GM; a president. He's done just about everything you can do in the NBA except own a team. So he has a great deal of experience and knowledge for the game and he can help in so many different ways."
The Minnesota Timberwolves will now conduct an interview with Bickerstaff, although the Trail Blazers said they did not know for when it was scheduled.
Minnesota GM David Kahn has been on the lookout for a new head coach for a while now and Bernie Bickerstaff is just one of the names on his shortlist. The Timberwolves GM is believed to want to have a replacement lined up before he lets go of Kurt Rambis, whose fate has been sealed after months of uncertainty.
There were suggestions that Rambis’ services could be retained by the Timberwolves but a number of key factors went against him. His relationship with the roster, especially with star power forward Kevin Love is not believed to be the best. Rambis’ favoured triangle offense also failed to produce for Minnesota and with the arrival of Spanish guard Ricky Rubio this off season, the management decided they needed a move away from the triangle offense as it did not suit the playing personnel at their disposal.
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