MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have chosen Ryan Saunders as their full-fledged head coach — and the first millennial to hold the job in the NBA.The team announced Monday that the 33-year-old Saunders will stay in the post he held on an interim basis during the second half of this past season, the role long held by his father. The widely expected decision was made by new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas."I've known Ryan for many years and have always respected his approach to the game, work ethic, basketball knowledge and passion," Rosas said in a statement."His coaching style and philosophies are ideal for the modern NBA, and I am confident that as a partner he will get the most out of our players as we build an identity and a sustainable winning model."With Saunders and the 40-year-old Rosas, the Timberwolves have a leadership duo that, at the combined age of 73, is only three years older than San Antonio president and coach Gregg Popovich and 12 years older... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rarely has a pro sports team experienced such a difference in drama levels from the start to finish of one season that these Minnesota Timberwolves did.As the Timberwolves wound down the second half of their schedule that was as dull as the first part was eventful, they were outspoken in their desire to establish a healthier and steadier environment for 2019-20 in which the excitement would be confined to contention for the playoffs instead of off-the-court issues."Stability is such a big key component in winning in the NBA," All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns said this week. "So hopefully this summer we can find that stability in our coaching staff and everything and find a way to come back ready to go and have a head start this time."Soap opera status was achieved before training, when Jimmy Butler's wish to be traded after just one season in Minnesota became public. Tom Thibodeau, one of the rare dual-role president-coach authorities remaining in the league who acquired Butler... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable for Friday night's game in New York against the Knicks after a car accident in the Minneapolis area.The Star Tribune reports Towns was headed to the airport Thursday when he was involved in the accident. Coach Ryan Saunders told the newspaper Towns caught a commercial flight after the accident and missed a team shootaround.Saunders said he had no information on specific injuries for Towns. Guard Tyus Jones told the Star Tribune he saw Towns before the shootaround and Towns was doing "all right.""Rest" was listed as the reason for him being questionable on the official injury reportIt wasn't immediately clear where the accident occurred. Minneapolis police said they didn't handle any incident involving Towns. A Timberwolves spokesman didn't immediately respond to a phone message from The Associated Press.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose was ruled out Sunday against Oklahoma City with a sore left ankle.Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau made the announcement prior to the game.Rose left Friday's game at San Antonio in the second quarter.Rose has started the previous three games. He is averaging 18.5 points and 4.6 assists per game. Tyus Jones was slated to start in his place.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves made major strides this season in ending their 13-year absence from the NBA playoffs after a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s and veterans Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague coming off productive debuts in Minnesota, there is a sturdy starting lineup in place around Butler to ideally take the Timberwolves deeper in the next postseason.Advancement is easier stated than consummated.The Wolves, even with coach Tom Thibodeau's preference to give his first-teamers heavy minutes, need to add depth this summer with defense and 3-point shooting atop the skill-set wish list. There is no clear way to acquire more of it, though, after making the logical first moves by drafting versatile wing players Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop last week .Wiggins will begin playing on his maximum contract in 2018-19, with a $25 million-plus salary that will account for more than 20... [More]

For Derrick Rose, what's old is new again.Rose has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago: coach Tom Thibodeau and teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release contract terms, but a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press the deal is for the remainder of the season.Rose was in uniform for the Wolves on Thursday night against Boston, but he didn't get in the game."The only thing I'm missing now is the opportunity," Rose told reporters in Minnesota earlier in the day. "Talking to Thibs, he sounds like he's going to give me the opportunity, so it's all about learning the guys and fitting in at the right time."Minnesota will be the fourth team Rose plays for and technically his fourth franchise in the last 11 months. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five of those with Thibodeau as his coach. He was with New York last season and started this season with Cleveland,... [More]

For Derrick Rose, what's old is new again.Rose has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in a move that reunites the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago — coach Tom Thibodeau, as well as Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release the terms, but a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the deal is for the remainder of the season.Rose may debut as early as Thursday night, when Minnesota plays host to Boston."The only thing I'm missing now is the opportunity," Rose told reporters in Minnesota on Thursday. "Talking to Thibs, he sounds like he's going to give me the opportunity, so it's all about learning the guys and fitting in at the right time."Minnesota will be the fourth team Rose plays for, and technically his fourth franchise in the last 11 months. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five of those with Thibodeau as his coach. He was with New York last season and started this season with Cleveland, but appeared... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Summer was coming into bloom, and Flip Saunders had an extra bounce in his step as he departed Minnesota's arena with his wife that night of the 2015 draft.The Timberwolves were finally on the verge of flourishing again after so many lost seasons. They took future All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick and followed with a trade for hometown point guard Tyus Jones later in the first round."I remember walking down First Avenue and him saying, 'We're going to be good,'" said Debbie Saunders, his widow who continues to attend nearly every home game more than two years after his death of complications from cancer. "The future was looking so bright, and he really felt it that night. He was so happy."Saunders would surely be smiling about the tribute in his honor at Target Center on Thursday night before Minnesota's game against the Los Angeles Lakers."I'm not saying this because he's my husband. I think Flip deserves this. He would be so proud of that,"... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Jeff Teague was back in the lineup Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing seven games with a sprained MCL in his left knee.Teague returned to practice wearing a brace on his knee and worked out on the court before the team announced he would play. In his first season in Minnesota, Teague is averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 7.3 assists per game.The Timberwolves went 4-3 in Teague's absence.Teague was also sidelined the final four games in November with a sore right Achilles. In the games Teague has missed, Tyus Jones has averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals.