Sam Mitchell to Serve as Timberwolves Interim Coach

A former player of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sam Mitchell, will be tasked to take on interim head coaching duties as regular head coach Flip Saunders undergoes treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Back in August 11, the returning Saunders revealed that he was diagnosed with the illness, although doctors say that it is very much treatable and curable. He was diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system back in June and has been undergoing chemotherapy ever since.

Mitchell spent 13 seasons with the Timberwolves (1989-1992 and 1995-2002) and was a very popular figure in the community. During the last seven years of his stay in Minnesota, Mitchell played a mentor role as he tried to guide a young Kevin Garnett. As everyone probably figured out by now, Garnett has blossomed into the game's best forward ever since.

Garnett, who is also in the lineup for the coming season after being acquired last season, will try to pay it forward as he and most likely Mitchell, will try to whip up the young frontline of the T-Wolves.

Minnesota is filled with promising big men of the future, led by sophomore and last year's NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, incoming rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, and hopefully, Anthony Bennett.

Mitchell is no stranger to coaching. He was the head coach of the Toronto Raptors from 2004 until 2008. As far as his coaching record is concerned, Mitchell is 156-189 (W-L) with the Raptors. He took the franchise to the NBA playoffs twice and was adjudged the NBA coach of the year in 2006-07.

Things didn't pan out for Mitchell in 2008 though. Toronto eventually relieved him of head coaching duties and assigned interim head coaching chores to Jay Triano.

From there, Mitchell has served on an assistant coaching capacity. He was one of the assistant coaches for the New Jersey Nets (2010) but would later on slide down as a scout when PJ Carlesimo and Mario Ellie came on board.

In June, Mitchell was hired by the Timberwolves as one of the assistants of Saunders.

With coach Flip dealing with an illness, Mitchell has been tasked to step up for the meantime while coach Flip is out. Mitchell will get the chance to be at the helm and hopefully guide the Timberwolves to a credible start until Flip Saunders is cleared to return to the Minnesota fold.