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Report: Rosas' leadership style, team performance among reasons for firing

Jordan Johnson / National Basketball Association / Getty

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas was abruptly fired Wednesday, but trouble within the organization appeared to be brewing for quite some time.

A number of team staffers voiced their concerns to ownership about the way Rosas went about his business, which ultimately led to his dismissal, sources told The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania.

Rosas' tenure was apparently described by some as dysfunctional. His employees reportedly worked long hours without having much influence on decisions. Further, Rosas carried out a consensual intimate relationship with a staff member despite being married, Krawczynski and Charania report.

Others within the organization were said to be against Rosas' key transactions, notably the light protections on the first-round draft pick surrendered to the Golden State Warriors in the D'Angelo Russell blockbuster deal.

Additionally, executive vice president of basketball operations Sachin Gupta was apparently at odds with Rosas after he blocked him from taking a higher paying job with the Houston Rockets.

The bubbling internal tension combined with Rosas' 42-96 mark was reportedly among the reasons for his sudden ousting.

"This decision was made for performance reasons," one high-ranking Timberwolves source told Krawczynski and Charania.

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