Gersson Rosas’ dismissal just days before the Minnesota Timberwolves opened training camp is stunning on its face, a change at the top of basketball operations as the team begins a critical season and is in discussions to try to trade for a disgruntled star to bolster its chances.
It is also the culmination of months of evaluation by ownership and the franchise’s high-ranking officials about the state of Rosas’ leadership and the direction of the franchise under his watch. Ownership has listened to a vocal contingent of staffers express concern about the way Rosas conducted his business, sources told The Athletic, and finally came to the conclusion that they could not wait any longer to address the situation.
Rosas’ reign was described as dysfunctional, with tension rippling through the front office, according to some sources. Outside of it, rival team executives and agents would complain about how Rosas treated relationships and negotiations. The complaints reached as high as the ownership level over the last several weeks, lending a perception of inevitability to the end of Rosas’ tenure.
Rosas was just days away from starting his third season as leader of the team’s basketball operations, but the Wolves informed him on Wednesday that he would not continue. Rosas’ teams went 42-94 in those two seasons, missing the playoffs both years.
“Today, the Minnesota Timberwolves parted ways with President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas,” owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. “As an organization, we remain committed to building a winning team that our fans and city can be proud of.
