Minnesota Timberwolves fans want reunion with Kevin Garnett, Flip Saunders

Mar 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) during the second quarter at the Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsThe Minnesota Timberwolves are traveling back in time with the hiring of Flip Saunders as the team’s president of player operations.

Saunders originally joined the franchise in May of 1995 as the team’s president. Seven months later, he became the head coach, a position he held for the next decade.

In his ten seasons as head coach for the Timberwolves, Saunders had the pleasure of coaching and grooming Kevin Garnett. The two still have a great relationship to this day.

With the news of Saunder’s hiring and talk of Garnett potentially retiring after the Boston Celtics’ elimination from the playoffs on Friday, fans on discussion boards and social media are calling for a Saunders-Garnett reunion.

The idea of Garnett returning to Minnesota is not that crazy of a thought. If the Timberwolves let Nikola Pekovic leave in free agency, they have a hole to fill at center. Even if Minnesota addresses the center position during the NBA Draft, big men usually take time to develop and contribute right away.

Saunders was fired as the team’s head coach during the 2004-05 season, after a disappointing start. A year later, still as a member of the Timberwolves, Garnett had nothing but great things to say about his former longtime coach.

"“Flip’s a great coach,” Garnett said in 2006. “He’s not an OK coach. He’s a great coach. You put him anywhere, he’s going to succeed. Period.”"

Well, Flip’s back in Minnesota now. Will you join him, Garnett?