One thought on Adelman: 'That's my guy'

imberwolves center Brad Miller has spent the summer at home on his 1,000-acre farm in northeastern Indiana waiting and hoping.

Waiting for his surgically repaired knee to heal so he can soon start jogging and jumping again.

Hoping that his brand-new team really might hire Rick Adelman as its next coach.

"That's my guy," he said.

Player and coach were united for the third time in their careers on Tuesday, when the Wolves, in a bit of serendipity, announced Adelman will replace fired Kurt Rambis.

"When they were interviewing candidates, I was hoping a lot," Miller said. "I knew if it was Rick, Minnesota would be a lot better. Instantly, things became a lot better there, especially for me. He's a coach I respect, a fair coach.

"This guy, it's true what he can do. His record speaks for itself."

Miller has played for six different teams in a 13-year NBA career that has taken him from undrafted rookie to riches and two All-Star Game appearances.

Through it all, Adelman remains his favorite pro coach because of a sensible, straightforward approach that produces success.

So much so, Miller said he signed a three-year contract with Houston specifically for the chance to play again for Adelman and a coaching staff that largely had remained intact since Miller played three seasons for Adelman in Sacramento.

He was on Kings teams that featured Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby and lost to Kevin Garnett and the Wolves in a seven-game 2004 playoff series.

"I've got a little bit still in the tank," said Miller, who has two seasons remaining on that three-year contract, but only $1 million is guaranteed in the final year. "I know this coach, I know this system. I can't play 40 minutes a game anymore, but in practice, I can get them better. I'll come in and chew someone's butt. We'll get them right. I started doing this 13 years ago. I'm accepting of what I've done and where I am in my career. I'll help out where I can.

"The body doesn't react at 35 the way it did at 25, but the brain is getting smarter and better. I still know a few tricks."

And so much so, Miller hung out in the Houston locker room visiting with Adelman and his assistant coaches until he was kicked out before the game when he played for Chicago. The Wolves acquired him in a draft-night trade that sent Jonny Flynn and the No. 20 pick to the Rockets.

"He's not a man who needs to say a lot," Miller said. "That's just not his personality. In Sacramento, when we were winning all these games, he was kind of the same whether it was a good stretch or a bad one. But when he says something, you listen. You understand what he's saying.

"I know one thing: If you can't play, you're not going to play. He gets guys to build trust between the coaches and players. He expects you to do your job. He doesn't talk much, but when you get him going on the right subject, he has a nice smart-ass bite."