What does David Vanterpool bring to the Timberwolves' coaching staff?

Vanterpool got a lot of credit for developing star players in Portland.
What does David Vanterpool bring to the Timberwolves' coaching staff?
What does David Vanterpool bring to the Timberwolves' coaching staff? /

David Vanterpool (right)
David Vanterpool (right)

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Timberwolves are hiring David Vanterpool to be the top assistant on head coach Ryan Saunders' staff. 

Woj writes

"Sources: Minnesota is hiring Portland assistant David Vanterpool as associate head coach. He’ll run defense and play key role in support of Ryan Saunders. Vanterpool spent seven years with Blazers, playing a prominent part in growth of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum."

Vanterpool reportedly interviewed for the head coaching job with the Wolves before Minnesota President of Basketball Operations elected to remove the interim label and give Saunders the full-time head coach position. 

Vanterpool has been on head coach Terry Stotts' staff in Portland since 2012-13, and is still coaching this season with the Blazers reaching the Western Conference Finals.

Bleacher Report notes that Vanterpool was tied for the third-most votes for best assistant coach in NBA.com's 2017-18 General Manager poll.

As a defensive coach in Portland, Vanterpool helped the Blazers improve over his seven years. Here's where their team defensive rating ranked each season with Vanterpool on the coaching staff. 

  • 2018-19: 16th (109.5)
  • 2017-18: 6th (105.5)
  • 2016-17: 22nd (110.0)
  • 2015-16: 19th (106.8)
  • 2014-15: 9th (102.8)
  • 2013-14: 16th (106.1)
  • 2012-13: 25th (107.9)

Vanterpool's credit for improving the defense swelled in 2017-18, when they when from 22nd to sixth in defensive rating. But last season, they dipped back down to 16th. Granted, the 2018-19 season was one of the most offensive-dominant years in the game's history, . 

Star Tribune Wolves beat writer Chris Hine brings up another good reason for hiring Vanterpool: He was on the Team Canada coaching staff in 2015 – the last year Wiggins played for the national team – and has a good relationship with Andrew Wiggins. 

Perhaps Vanterpool can help Wiggins become a consistent producer on both ends of the floor similar to how Vanterpool helped Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum blossom in Portland. 

Trading Wiggins and his maximum contract is an impossible task for the Wolves, so bringing in a coach that might be able to maximize his talent could be a beneficial move. 

Vanterpool is also a Vikings fan, or at least a big fan of wide receiver Stefon Diggs. 


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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.