Flip confirms: He will be next coach

Flip Saunders will be the next Timberwolves coach and will be introduced Friday in a news conference.

He confirmed in a text message this morning that he will coach the team but declined further comment until tomorrow.

As far as I know, there is no specified length of time that he'll coach, although he has suggested before it would only be for a season or two if he did decide to coach.

When it's all sorted out, Flip's staff is expected to include former Wolves players Sam Mitchell and Sidney Lowe, although I'm not certain yet if either is a coach-in-waiting to take the job next.

No word if one of Flip's former players, Chauncey Billups, will become that former coach-in-waiting and it's likely Flip's son Ryan will eventually join the staff.

"I like Flip, he's the best coach the Timberwolves have ever had," Wolves forward Corey Brewer said about today's news. "It's all about winning."

I'm hearing Glen's agreement with Flip to coach is open-ended in terms of year. It's possible he could go back in a year and two and see if he can convince either Michigan State's Tom Izzo or Iowa State's Fred Hoiberg to take the job if the timing is then better for either man.

Kevin Love's uncertain future likely impacted this decision because it left doubt in some candidates' minds. I'm not sure yet if Flip still thinks he can convince Love to stay. I'm sure we'll ask him that tomororow.

The decision likely was made so the Wolves have answers and stability so they can move ahead with player off-season training plans, etc.

Billups still is under a player's contract with Detroit so if anything happens with him, it won't be until next month likely so the Wolves don't risk the same kind of fine Phil Jackson got for talking about Derek Fisher as possible the next Knicks coach.

Flip and owner Glen Taylor met earlier this week and agreed that Saunders as coach was the best option after he inquired with pals Izzo, Hoiberg and Jeff Van Gundy about their interest in the job and had interviewd Mitchell, Lionel Hollins, Scott Skiles and aggressively pursued Memphis coach Dave Joerger before Joerger decided to stay in Memphis.

"I'm a little surprised he's stepping back in and coaching, but it's a pleasant surprise," Brewer said. "He built the team so why not coach?"