Saunders took over the Timberwolves’ interim coaching duties this past Sunday after Minnesota fired coach Tom Thibodeau. Saunders is the son of former Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders, who died on Oct. 25, 2015.
“Flip was a good friend of mine,” Carlisle said following Friday morning’s shootaround at the Target Center. “He was a guy that was so well-thought of universally by everyone in the game, by the coaching fraternity especially.
“He had an amazing way with people. Ryan has all of those same qualities. Now he has an amazing opportunity. After this dad passed I spent a lot of time with him over the last couple of years.