Nuggets Expected To Hire Ex-Wolves Coach Ryan Saunders As Assistant

Former Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders is expected to join Mike Malone‘s coaching staff with the Nuggets, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Saunders, 36, coached the Timberwolves from 2019-21, compiling a 43-94 record. Before that, he was an assistant coach with the Wizards and Timberwolves, under father Flip Saunders, who passed away in 2015.

Ryan Saunders is expected to replace former Timberwolves associate coach Jordi Fernandez, who left for a position with incoming coach Mike Brown and the Kings.

The Nuggets are coming off a 48-34 season in which they lost in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs to the Warriors. Next season, though, reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is likely to be rejoined by a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.