Wolves' Saunders still evaluating options with No. 1 pick, plans to remain coach
Flip Saunders won't tip his hand.
The Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach says the team is still evaluating its options at No. 1 in the NBA Draft.
"We're still determining," Saunders told NBC Sports Radio over the weekend.
If I had to make a decision today, you probably have a guy you know you would take. But we are still open ... more than anything else, we have a really good nucleus with (Andrew) Wiggins, we look at (Zach) Lavine, with (Shabazz) Muhammad and the type of year he had, even with Gorgui Dieng. We have to make sure we get a guy who can help grow with those guys and is going to make Wiggins and those guys better.
The Dieng note is interesting. Most expect the Timberwolves to go big with either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor, but the 25-year-old Senegalese center has shown flashes in first two NBA seasons, and averaged 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 73 games this year. If they intend on continuing to give Dieng an opportunity to develop, then Towns would make more sense thanks to his floor-spacing ability at power forward.
For the time being, Saunders is prepared to keep wearing two hats with the organization. The president of basketball operations and head coach is in agreement with owner Glen Taylor that eventually there will be a new bench boss, but nothing is imminent.
"Right now I'm coaching the team," he said. "It's interesting, when I ended up coaching a year ago, it was the right thing to do at that time for the organization. We had the unknowns with Kevin Love, we would have pigeonholed ourselves if we took a veteran coach and maybe not have the flexibility to go as young as we did."
The Wolves are rebuilding and assembling young talent, so investing in a new coach can wait. Still, Saunders has his eyes peeled.
"Last year I probably talked to 12 coaches. A lot of people probably weren’t aware," Saunders said. "I've done the same thing as far as numerous coaches this year. It might not be for right now, but it could be down the road. I'm constantly in the evaluation process for coaches."
Saunders also reiterated that he expects Kevin Garnett to return for a 22nd NBA season. It was reported Monday that the veteran is involved in draft consultations.