Minnesota Timberwolves executive VP Sachin Gupta set to join Chelsea (original) (raw)
Sachin Gupta, executive vice president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is set to leave the NBA franchise to take a role at Chelsea.
The 42-year-old has been in that position at the Timberwolves since 2021, having joined them two years earlier to assist in the collective bargaining agreement and team analytics.
In 2006, Gupta created the “NBA Trade Machine” for ESPN — allowing users to assume the role of a general manager, based on the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, which assess whether player trades are possible under salary restrictions.
The Timberwolves and Chelsea have both been approached for comment by The Athletic.
Gupta spent five seasons in the Timberwolves front office, including spending one season as the interim general manager, and he has been an important part of the team’s rise to contention in the Western Conference. He also has worked with the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons during 18 years in the NBA.
Gupta climbed the ranks during the strategic and analytics boom that rippled through the league over the last two decades, working for Daryl Morey in Houston and Sam Hinkie in Philadelphia.
Gupta initially developed ESPN’s Trade Machine. (Courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves)
Gupta came to Minnesota from Detroit to serve as the No. 2 in command under Gersson Rosas. He ushered in a more robust strategy and analytics department with the Timberwolves, building one of the larger staffs in the league. Rosas was abruptly fired just before training camp in 2021, and Gupta was elevated to lead the front office. He provided stability during a chaotic moment and helped lead the Timberwolves to their second playoff appearance in the previous 18 seasons.
The Wolves hired Tim Connelly as president of basketball operations in 2022, and Gupta remained on board. The Timberwolves have made the playoffs three straight seasons, an uncommon amount of success for the franchise, including a run to the Western Conference finals last season.
Chelsea’s new ownership comprised of private equity firm Clearlake Capital and U.S. billionaire Todd Boehly — a co-owner of the LA Dodgers — has hired a number of new staff as part of a wide-ranging revamp of the club since taking over in 2022.
The team finished 12th in the Premier League in 2022/23 after changing head coach twice during the season before a sixth-place finish last season. They then again parted with a head coach in Mauricio Pochettino, who has gone on to be hired by the USMNT.
Chelsea, which has seven points from their opening four Premier League matches of the campaign, are next in action on Saturday with an away match against West Ham United.
GO DEEPERRodeos, trade machines and pick swaps: Inside Sachin Gupta’s road to Minnesota
(Top photo: Courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves)
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