McHale’s seat on the bench might be filled by a Wolves alum, but apparently not by Flip Saunders. Saunders, who was fired by the Wolves in 2005, got the same directive after last season in Detroit. Earlier in the week Saunders, 54, was reportedly near a deal to become Washington’s coach.
The development seemingly ends the hope that Saunders, who kept his permanent home here even after being hired by Detroit, will return to the Wolves organization. Saunders is popular with local fans, many of whom clamored for him to get the Gophers job two years ago.
Hiring Saunders would have been a marketing boost for the beleaguered franchise that annually operates in the red and whose team performs before thousands of empty seats in Target Center. Ultimately, though, it will be about winning as a cure-all to restore the franchise’s image and that could happen with other coaches including Wolves alums Tom Thibodeau, Tyrone Corbin and Sam Mitchell.
Thibodeau was on Bill Musselman’s first coaching staff here and has a reputation as a defensive master including as an assistant for the NBA champion Celtics. Corbin and Mitchell are former players under Musselman. Corbin, although never an NBA head coach, has earned praise as a Utah assistant and Mitchell had a successful run at Toronto where he was 2007 NBA Coach of the Year before being let go last year.
People often ask how Taylor, the likeable Mankato billionaire, can run his businesses with such success and manage the Wolves with…well, you pick the word. In the weeks ahead Taylor, who has been encouraged for years to revamp the basketball front office, will have the opportunity to write a new business plan at 600 First Ave. North.