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Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman announces retirement

Sam Amick
USA TODAY Sports
Adelman is one of just eight coaches to be part of the 1,000-win club, finishing with a 1,042-749 mark and a .582 winning percentage.

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has announced his retirement.

Adelman, 67, has considered retirement often in recent seasons as his wife of more than four decades, Mary Kay, struggled mightily with her health. His contract included an option for next season for both the team and the coach, and his departure has been expected for quite some time now.

While this Timberwolves season was certainly a disappointment for Adelman, his career was anything but. He is one of just eight coaches to be part of the 1,000-win club, finishing with a 1,042-749 mark and a .582 winning percentage that is fifth-best among the group that includes Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, George Karl and Larry Brown.

The next hire will be crucial for Minnesota because of the uncertain future of forward Kevin Love, who can be a free agent next summer and who has yet to play in the postseason in his six-year career.

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg has long been known to be high on the list of Timberwolves president Flip Saunders and is expected to be among the candidates. "The Mayor," as he has been known since his playing days, played two of his 10 NBA seasons for the Timberwolves (2003-05) when Saunders was the coach.

Saunders is also know to have a close relationship with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who was an unofficial consultant of sorts for him last year leading up to the NBA draft. Izzo has said consistently that he had no plans of leaving the job he has held since 1995, but that doesn't mean Saunders won't try to convince him to give the NBA a try.

George Karl is another name to consider in this mix, as the longtime NBA coach and current ESPN analyst has the sort of credentials (1,131-756 all-time record) and reputation that may make Love feel more at ease about sticking around.

The notion of Saunders taking over the coaching duties is also a possibility. He has a strong relationship with Love and would be able to determine the team's fate on that front.

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