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Report: Mitchell to act as Wolves' interim coach as Saunders battles cancer

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Sam Mitchell will be elevated to head coach as Flip Saunders is treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Timberwolves will announce the move at a news conference Friday morning, according to the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda.

Saunders, 60, was diagnosed with the cancer last month. Doctors characterized it at the time as "very treatable and curable," and an initial statement said Saunders would continue in his duties as coach and team president.

Mitchell, a one-time NBA Coach of the Year with the Toronto Raptors in 2007, filled in as Timberwolves head coach for one game last season. A former Wolves player under Saunders from 1995-2002, he joined Minnesota's staff as an assistant in 2014.

Saunders hopes to return to the Wolves' bench this season, Wojnarowski reports. Mitchell is expected to be coaching the team at least through the preseason and the start of the regular season in late October, according to Zgoda.

Hodgkin's lymphoma originates in white blood cells and had a five-year U.S. survival rate of 85.9 percent between 2005 and 2011. It's frequently treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry recently returned to action after being diagnosed with the illness last December. NHL legend Mario Lemieux was diagnosed with and recovered from the disease in 1993.

In 17 seasons as an NBA head coach, Saunders boasts a regular-season record of 654-592 and a 47-51 record in the postseason.

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