Petersen (r) over the years has emerged as one of the most trusted voices within the T'Wolves organizationJIM PETERSEN
During the T'Wolves search for a new president of basketball operations, which led to the hiring of Gersson Rosas, team CEO Ethan Casson looked "outside of the organization to bring some much-needed basketball knowledge and schematic expertise to the group" by seeking the advice of FS North analyst Jim Petersen, according to Jon Krawczynski of THE ATHLETIC. Petersen was included because he has been a "fixture at Target Center for more than two decades, one of the most respected television analysts in the league and a former longtime assistant coach" with the WNBA Minnesota Lynx. While some across the league could have "looked at Petersen’s inclusion as unorthodox," few people in and around the T'Wolves are "more trusted by Owner Glen Taylor and Casson than Petersen." That trust led Peterson to be "added to the six-person panel that formally interviewed four candidates." One of the "biggest areas of struggle over the years for Taylor" in running the team has been "finding the right person to run the basketball side of the operations." During this past search, Taylor "placed trust at a premium." Casson, Petersen and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve are "all part of his inner circle." Taylor said, "It’s a process that I used in my other businesses and have been successful doing that. I want to get as many people involved that I know and I trust." Local reaction to Petersen’s role was "largely positive," given his credibility among T'Wolves fans "ranks much higher than the organization itself" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/10).
