Former Gopher Ryan Saunders on Wolves coaching staff

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gophers?src=hash">#Gophers</a> guard Ryan Saunders expected to be named to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TWolves?src=hash">#TWolves</a> coaching staff on Tuesday, per multiple media reports.</p>— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) <a href="https://twitter.com/GopherHole/statuses/483813162077003776">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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This is great. His expertise and experience will provide such a boost to this coaching staff. I'm so glad to have him on board. What a great signing.
 

Wizards assistant Ryan Saunders has accepted a position with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Saunders has been with the Wizards organization since his father, Flip, was hired as coach in 2009. He remained with the team after Randy Wittman became the head coach in January 2012.

Because of his contributions in scouting, analytics and with player development, the Wizards were unwilling to let Ryan Saunders leave last year, when Flip Saunders took over as team president and part owner of the Timberwolves.

Washington signed Ryan Saunders to a new deal, and he helped Wittman guide the Wizards to the fifth seed and a second-round playoff appearance. But in a expected move, Saunders is headed back to a better position with his father, who assumed coaching duties of the Timberwolves last month. He remained with the team through draft workouts but is moving on with his contract expiring on June 30.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ill-fly-to-poland-to-meet-with-marcin-gortat/
 

afurry91 said:
This is great. His expertise and experience will provide such a boost to this coaching staff. I'm so glad to have him on board. What a great signing.
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He is not playing. He is coaching. His contribution may surprise you. The Wizards felt he was valuable enough to them to not allow him go last year. He created some basketball statistical analytics programs that are valuable enough that other teams around the world have incorporated them into their operations.
 

So the coaching staff, off the top of my head, is Flip Saunders, Sidney Lowe, Sam Mitchell, and Ryan Saunders.

Do people wonder why this organization is called the "Country Club" and is such a total failure? The Timberwolves will not be any good until they get a new owner. The problem stems from the top.
 


Gopherguy0723 said:
So the coaching staff, off the top of my head, is Flip Saunders, Sidney Lowe, Sam Mitchell, and Ryan Saunders.

Do people wonder why this organization is called the "Country Club" and is such a total failure? The Timberwolves will not be any good until they get a new owner. The problem stems from the top.
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Flip Saunders is 20th in wins in NBA history. He is a darn good coach. And in fairness, the last time this organization was relevant was when these people were involved.
 

60's Guy said:
He is not playing. He is coaching. His contribution may surprise you. The Wizards felt he was valuable enough to them to not allow him go last year. He created some basketball statistical analytics programs that are valuable enough that other teams around the world have incorporated them into their operations.
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He remained with the team through draft workouts but is moving on with his contract expiring on June 30.
___
If he was so valuable why were they let his contract expire?

Did Flipper interview all the most qualified candidates and couldn't deny that Ryan was the best for the job or was it good old nepotism?
 





HOOP DREAMS said:
So they don't renew or renegotiate with employees they wish to keep before the expire anymore?

Ok.
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To come to terms on a new contract, both parties have to agree. Washington may have wanted to retain him, but Ryan may have wanted to move back home. Or vice versa.

You can't force an employee to sign a new contract in most parts of the western world.

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
To come to terms on a new contract, both parties have to agree. Washington may have wanted to retain him
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Yes, well aware of that Bleedster.

There is a good chance they did not extend him an offer and he is not the best/most qualified candidate for the Wolves assistant job as well.
 


HOOP DREAMS said:
Yes, well aware of that Bleedster.

There is a good chance they did not extend him an offer and he is not the best/most qualified candidate for the Wolves assistant job as well.
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And there is a really good chance you are just blowing smoke out you arse!!!
 




Gopherguy0723 said:
So the coaching staff, off the top of my head, is Flip Saunders, Sidney Lowe, Sam Mitchell, and Ryan Saunders.

Do people wonder why this organization is called the "Country Club" and is such a total failure? The Timberwolves will not be any good until they get a new owner. The problem stems from the top.
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+1. I'm so, so happy Flip is not coaching the Gophers.
 


Rodney's Open said:
Flip Saunders is 20th in wins in NBA history. He is a darn good coach. And in fairness, the last time this organization was relevant was when these people were involved.
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If all we want is relevance, then great, let's get the band back together.
 

I get the whole "Country Club" bit and everything, but to be fair, most of these guys weren't here for the worst of things the last 10 years.
 

Ryan comes from a fine lineage. His great-grand pappy was decorated Colonel.
 

Rodney's Open said:
Flip Saunders is 20th in wins in NBA history. He is a darn good coach. And in fairness, the last time this organization was relevant was when these people were involved.
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Maybe, but the involvement of Garnett, Cassell, and Latrell "Got to feed my family" Sprewell was a lot more important.
 

Timeline and nepotism

HOOP DREAMS said:
He remained with the team through draft workouts but is moving on with his contract expiring on June 30.
___
If he was so valuable why were they let his contract expire?

Did Flipper interview all the most qualified candidates and couldn't deny that Ryan was the best for the job or was it good old nepotism?
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Flip didn't just attempt to hire Ryan a couple weeks ago. He attempted to hire Ryan last summer and was turned down by the Wizards.
So, the Wizards knew the landscape.

Regarding nepotism: people like working in environments with people they love and trust. It's rampant in the NBA, NFL and MLB because
team is critical...everyone on board, all in, pulling the same direction. Blood is thicker than water...all that, is important in sports. Chemistry between coaches is even more important than chemistry between players. Loyalty...I got your back mentality. Coaches have to be on the same page....people you know either from past relationships or family help insure this.
 

Mulligan said:
Maybe, but the involvement of Garnett, Cassell, and Latrell "Got to feed my family" Sprewell was a lot more important.
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No question, players are almost always more important than the Coach (Spurs being an exception).

But Flip had success here and with the Pistons (3 straight conference championship appearances).
 

60's Guy said:
Flip didn't just attempt to hire Ryan a couple weeks ago. He attempted to hire Ryan last summer and was turned down by the Wizards.
So, the Wizards knew the landscape.

team is critical...everyone on board, all in, pulling the same direction. Blood is thicker than water...all that, is important in sports. Chemistry between coaches is even more important than chemistry between players. Loyalty...I got your back mentality. Coaches have to be on the same page....people you know either from past relationships or family help insure this.
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Garbage reasoning. Complete crap, sad that some people actually believe this.

60's Guy said:
turned down by the Wizards
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What, they were going to sue him if he tried to get out of his contract? Proof?

60's Guy said:
Flip didn't just attempt to hire Ryan a couple weeks ago
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Big surprise there! I'm glad Norwood told Flip to take a walk when he wanted Jr. on staff.

60's Guy said:
So, the Wizards knew the landscape
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Ok?
 

With friends like HOOP DREAMS, who needs enemies? If you are Wolves fan and are this upset that they hired Ryan Saunders as the third assistant, then wow. You must be really hard core. If you are a Gopher fan, why not be happy that a former Gopher is on an NBA staff and apparently providing value to a few franchises? Heck, we have more assistant coaches in the NBA than we do players (2 to 1) and both are sons of coaches who's last name probably helped them. So what?
 

I am happy for Flip and Ryan. Holding a NBA head or assistant coaching job is an elite place to be in the basketball profession, no matter the state of the franchise you're working for.

That said, I am glad they are on the Timberwolves bench and not the Gophers'.
 

Stan said:
Gopher fan, why not be happy that a former Gopher is on an NBA staff
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It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know. That is true.

I don’t have any more allegiance to Ryan Saunders than any other alum. of the University of Minnesota. Why would I?
 

Seems obvious

HOOP DREAMS said:
Garbage reasoning. Complete crap, sad that some people actually believe this.
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It seems obvious to me you have never coached anything above the sixth grade level (if at all) or owned a business with employees?

It seems likely you have never played on a successful team or if you did you were tolerated poison oblivious to your surroundings because you

could shoot some or you're tall or some other value that someone didn't have the courage to eliminate? Obviously, I dunno?

So, tell me about your coaching experience, knowledge, training formula to achieve your hoop dreams and how it's going for ya.

Enlighten me...I don't want to wallow in the garbage or crap. Please tell me how you did it with your team or company and the awards you have won

validating your proven philosophy.
 

60's Guy said:
It seems obvious to me you have never coached anything above the sixth grade level
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Wrong.

But, what are all your great qualifications?

By your logic, maybe Flip should hire his daughters and get rid of those other clowns in case they disagree with him or 'don't have his back'.

I guess he could hire some cousins or other relatives, but the closer the DNA match the better harmony on the sidelines right.
 

HOOP DREAMS said:
Wrong.

But, what are all your great qualifications?

By your logic, maybe Flip should hire his daughters and get rid of those other clowns in case they disagree with him or 'don't have his back'.

I guess he could hire some cousins or other relatives, but the closer the DNA match the better harmony on the sidelines right.
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I actually do have "great qualifications" which is how I know you do not. Go through a couple seasons with assistants who don't have your back

and get back to me. Asst Coach to player "I don't know why we play man, I'd play zone." "If I was the head coach, you'd be a starter." "If

I was the head coach, the first thing I'd do is eliminate half your shots" Just anything.."I'd do it different...I agree with you" (the player) , followed by

"I'd do it your way, if it was up to me" See how much harmony you have without loyalty, love and trust.

I don't believe I said a coach can't be successful hiring people who are not familiar to him/her but loyalty to the head coach is pretty high on the list to

be able to achieve success. Is Jerry Kill's staff loyal? Has he been successful everywhere he has been?
 


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