The Minnesota Timberwolves have parted ways with five members of head coach Ryan Saunders' staff.
More specifically, ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin says the Timberwolves parted ways with five of Saunders' assistants on May 21.
The Minnesota Timberwolves turned over Ryan Saunders’ coaching staff on Tuesday night, league sources told ESPN. They parted ways with Ed Pinckney, Larry Greer, Jerry Sichting, John Lucas Jr. and Dice Yoshimoto. They retained Malik Allen.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 22, 2019
The change in coaching personnel comes just a day after the Timberwolves named Saunders their head coach. In a press release on the team's official website, Saunders looked forward to re-establishing Minnesota's winning ways.
I want to thank Mr. (Timberwolves owner Glen) Taylor and (president of basketball operations) Gersson Rosas for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team and organization I have so much respect for.
I look forward to building on what we established last season in terms of instilling a positive environment for our players to grow on and off the court.
I'm excited to collaborate with Gersson and our staff to build a winning team that we can all be proud of.
Your new head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ryan Saunders! pic.twitter.com/ziXexDSyIp
— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) May 21, 2019
Saunders told CBS Minnesota's Mike Max on Tuesday, “There's going to be changes.” The overhaul of his coaching staff could just be the beginning.
Minnesota finished with a 36-46 (.439) win-loss record in the 2018-19 NBA season. The team missed the playoffs for the 14th time in the last 15 years.
Saunders is facing a daunting challenge. He needs to surround All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and swingman Andrew Wiggins with top-tier talent next season.
“Lastly, I need to recognize someone who is unable to be here in the physical form … I know he’d say there’s no place else he’d rather have me get my start.”
Ryan Saunders, introduced today as Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, thanks his father, the late Flip Saunders. pic.twitter.com/jgNLJDSu4a
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 21, 2019
The Timberwolves will select 11th in the 2019 NBA Draft next month. If they can select somebody like Darius Garland, Nassir Little, or De'Andre Hunter, they should establish a solid foundation for the future.
For now, 33-year-old Ryan Saunders is following in the footsteps of his father, the late Flip Saunders. The latter coached the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2005 and 2014-15.
The older Saunders guided Minnesota to its only Western Conference Finals appearance in 2004. His son certainly has what it takes to make the Timberwolves a playoff contender again.
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