HoopsHype.com Rumors

The University of Minnesota's search for a men's basketball coach became officially embarrassing when it was learned Saturday, March 30, that Flip Saunders had turned down the job. Saunders is believed to be at least the fourth coach to say no thanks to Gophers athletic administrators Norwood Teague and Mike Ellis since they fired Tubby Smith on Monday. Saunders, the popular former Gophers point guard and 16-year NBA coach who resides in Medina, wasn't saying anything publicly other than he'll always "bleed maroon and gold." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders 

So what might Flip Saunders be waiting for if the Timberwolves aren't going to change GMs and he turned down the U. of Minnesota? One, he is enjoying his TV work for ESPN, I'm told. Two, the family issues with which current Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman is dealing could prompt him to step down sometime in the future. I'm not sure where they go if that happens, but I have to think both Flip and JB Bickerstaff in Houston -- one of the young assistants earmarked to be hired as a head coach someday and a former Timberwolves assistant -- would be on their list. Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders, Rick Adelman, JB Bickerstaff 

Flip Saunders appears to have options: aside from proving himself adept in front of ESPN cameras, sources say both the U. of Minnesota and NBA Timberwolves have expressed varying degrees of interest in bringing Saunders back to their respective folds. Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders 

Flip Saunders wouldn't directly address the accuracy of Twin Cities reports now listing him as the leading Gophers basketball coaching candidate. Instead, the former University of Minnesota player and ex-Timberwolves coach described himself as an "NBA analyst" and an "ex-coach." "I guess the positive thing right now is that I have not been in Minneapolis," Saunders said Friday, March 28, on his weekly radio show with host Dan Barreiro on KFXN-FM 100.3. "I'm doing everything that I have planned to do. I haven't changed anything." Twitter and broadcast reports by WCCO-AM 830 and KFXN earlier Friday listed Saunders as the No. 1 candidate to replace Tubby Smith, who was fired Monday. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Coaching, Flip Saunders 

Darren Wolfson: According to my good friend, Chad Hartman (WCCO Radio), Flip Saunders has emerged as the leading candidate. #Gophers Twitter @DarrenWolfson

Coaching, Flip Saunders 

Saunders, now an ESPN analyst, was asked by ESPN 980′s Thom Loverro this week whether the Wizards’ current progress is aided by the roster purge over the last 12 months, in which the “knuckleheads” — to use Loverro’s term — were discarded. (Audio here.) “No question,” Saunders said. “I was a proponent from day one of changing that whole atmosphere. Having been in situations where we had success in both Detroit and in Minnesota, we didn’t have that… When I was there, I made my feelings pretty well known. And actually when I left — and had meetings with Ted Leonsis when I left — I pretty much said the same thing: that the team is not gonna take any type of steps until you clean out some of that knucklehead — like you said — the knucklehead factor and get everyone more on the same page.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ted Leonsis, Flip Saunders 

So I wouldn't be surprised to see a real shakeup in the Wolves organization if they don't have a very strong finish. That could include Saunders coaching as well as being general manager if Adelman leaves. Saunders would hire a top personnel executive to help him if he decided to coach. Season-ticket renewals for the 2013-14 season are going to be a tough sell if a lot of changes aren't made. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Flip Saunders, Rick Adelman 

Darren Wolfson: Taylor did confirm that he met w/ Flip Saunders recently in Mankato -- Flip was representing an interested ownership party. #twolves Twitter @DarrenWolfson

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Flip Saunders, Rick Adelman 

And then some time ago Taylor talked about how he was in contact with Saunders for information on how to handle the many injuries the Wolves have suffered this season. And the word is that Saunders made a trip to Mankato to talk basketball with Taylor. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Flip Saunders 

Saunders played at the University of Minnesota and was an assistant there. His long coaching career included a decade directing the Wolves. So when is Saunders, 58, leaving the periphery and returning to the game he's loved since he was a boy? "I'm keeping my options open," he said. "If the right situation comes along? I'll evaluate that. I want to be able to build something, want to go to a place where something can be accomplished.'' Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Coaching, Flip Saunders 

Saunders admits to missing coaching, but also talks with interest about being a general manager. At one point he will talk about the joy of working with people, the next the lure of assembling a team. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Coaching, Flip Saunders 

Mike Stephenson couldn't talk and still managed to get himself suspended from Minnesota Timberwolves practice for saying too much. He couldn't walk and still managed to crawl out of his wheelchair to wipe up a wet spot he noticed on the court before anyone else could get there. He couldn't shoot and still managed to leave a lasting impact on the organization that took him in and treated him as one of the guys. Stephenson was born with cerebral palsy and died earlier this week after the latest in a long line of bouts with pneumonia, leaving Timberwolves past and present to mourn one of the team's biggest fans, and biggest inspirations. He was 42. "He was so good for the players and the rest of us," former coach and executive Flip Saunders said. "They all make a lot of money and are kind of on a different level. But Mike helped them get a better understanding that there's other things, bigger things, that make the world go round." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Flip Saunders, Mike Stephenson 

The Wizards had to pay former coach Flip Saunders for this season, even though they fired him after 17 games last season. Wittman, meanwhile, is just 17 games into the first season of his two-year deal. Though Wittman is not getting paid the same as Saunders, Washington isn't enamored with the idea of paying three head coaches in a season that likely will not include the playoffs. USA Today

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman 

Veteran NBA head coach Flip Saunders has joined ESPN as an NBA studio analyst. As part of the multiyear agreement, Saunders will make regular appearances on a variety of ESPN studio shows, including SportsCenter, NBA Coast to Coast, NBA Tonight and other news and information programming. Saunders is scheduled to appear Wednesday, Oct. 31, during NBA Coast to Coast at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and Thursday, Nov. 1, during the 9 a.m. SportsCenter on ESPN. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to share the insights and perspective I gathered during my coaching career with NBA fans,” said Saunders. “I admire ESPN’s NBA coverage, and I’m glad to be part of the team.” ESPN.com

Coaching, Media, Flip Saunders 

Saunders is positive Garnett, who is a free agent, will sign for another year with the Celtics, who have some rebuilding to do. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Kevin Garnett, Flip Saunders 

Saunders doesn't have any interest in joining Rivers as an assistant coach next year. He has one year left on his Wizards contract for about $5 million, so that won't happen. Saunders said if the right offers came along, he'd coach next year, but if not, he would sit out a year like he did when Detroit let him go or maybe accept some offers he has received to do some consulting for college or pro teams. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Flip Saunders 

“Randy is a hard worker, he does a good job,” Saunders said on Sunday from TD Garden in Boston, where he is serving as a playoff consultant for the Celtics. “The guy was my assistant for eight years, so I’ve always had great respect for him and we share a lot of the same philosophies and I thought, coming down the stretch, he did a good job. He had the guys believing in what they were doing.” Washington Post

Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Coaching, Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman 

Nearly fourth months later, the Wizards have retained Saunders’s replacement for next two seasons with a contract that could be finalized today – and Saunders said he couldn’t be happier for Wittman. “Randy is a hard worker, he does a good job,” Saunders said on Sunday from TD Garden in Boston, where he is serving as a playoff consultant for the Celtics. “The guy was my assistant for eight years, so I’ve always had great respect for him and we share a lot of the same philosophies and I thought, coming down the stretch, he did a good job. He had the guys believing in what they were doing.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman 

According to multiple league sources, Wittman was in Washington last week and recently had a face-to-face meeting with owner Ted Leonsis. A source that confirmed the meeting was unsure if it was a perfunctory get-to-know-you session or a formal interview. Leonsis often sat near the Wizards’ bench during games, but never had the chance to sit down with Wittman after he replaced Flip Saunders on Jan. 24. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Ted Leonsis, Owners, Flip Saunders 

I’m shocked Flip Saunders’ name has yet to surface as a candidate to succeed one head coach or another in job jeopardy. New York Post

Coaching, Flip Saunders