Wolves’ Saunders Steps Aside For Cancer Treatment

Sam Mitchell Will Coach Until His Return

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation tells the Associated Press that Sam Mitchell will replace Flip Saunders as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the interim while Saunders continues treatment for cancer.

The person spoke Thursday to the AP on condition of anonymity, because an official announcement had not yet been made by the Timberwolves. The team set a news conference for Friday but did not specify the subject.

Saunders has Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments since June. When he announced his condition in August, he said his doctors called his prognosis "very treatable and curable." Saunders hoped then to be ready to resume his responsibilities when training camp got into full swing in October.