Report: T-wolves close to hiring Saunders

David Kahn
David Kahn, president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly close to firing its president and bringing back Flip Saunders.

A columnist at NBA.com, the league's official web outlet, says that the Minnesota franchise is about to replace president of basketball operations David Kahn with former Wolves and Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders.

Saunders coached the Wolves starting in late 1995, and for the next nine seasons, at the height of all-star Kevin Garnett's career in Minnesota. He was fired in 2005, and went on to coach the Detroit Pistons through 2008. After being fired there, he coached the Washington Wizards through January of 2012.

Most recently, he has been an NBA analyst for ESPN. Saunders turned down an offer to coach the University of Minnesota's Gopher men's basketball team last month, after the University of Minnesota fired Tubby Smith.

The Timberwolves would not confirm the NBA.com report, which says an official announcement is likely next week.