T-Wolves announce search for team president

The Minnesota Timberwolves will open a search for a new president of basketball operations after the conclusion of the regular season, the team announced Wednesday.

The new hire will help decide the futures of current general manager Scott Layden and interim head coach Ryan Saunders, league sources told The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania.

"They worked through a season with many injuries requiring many challenges in our player lineup," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said of Layden and Saunders in a release. "We are incredibly grateful to them for all their hard work and commitment to the franchise."

Layden was named Minnesota's GM in April 2016 when he signed a five-year, $10-million contract. He gained full authority to make basketball decisions when Tom Thibodeau was removed as both coach and president of basketball operations last January.

Saunders became interim head coach following Thibodeau's dismissal. He is expected to sign a three-year deal with a team option for the final year, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. He's the youngest head coach in the Association at 32 years old.

"Whenever I get the clarity, I get it. I'm operating as I'm going to do a job until they tell me not to do a job. That's my mindset with things," Saunders said on Monday, according to KSTP-TV.

Minnesota played its penultimate game of the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, losing 120-100 to the visiting Toronto Raptors at Target Center. The team sits 11th in the Western Conference at 36-45 and is 17-24 under Saunders.