|
 Saunders went 654-592 in 17 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves,
Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.
"It is with extreme sadness that the Minnesota Timberwolves today
learned that Phil 'Flip' Saunders, who served as the team's
President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach, in addition to
being a minority owner of the team, passed away today at age 60,"
the Timberwolves said in a statement.
Saunders sat out the preseason after being diagnosed with cancer,
but he was expected back at some point this season. However, he had
been hospitalized since September after experiencing complications
following the completion of chemotherapy.
The Timberwolves had announced Friday that Saunders would miss the
entire 2015-16 season. Sam Mitchell has been coaching the team
throughout the preseason in Saunders' absence and general manager
Milt Newton is handling the front-office responsibilities.
--
The Orlando Magic exercised their third-year team options on forward
Aaron Gordon, guard Shabazz Napier and guard Elfrid Payton, while
also exercising their fourth-year team option on guard Victor
Oladipo.
Gordon was a first-round pick in the 2014 NBA draft and averaged 5.2
points and 3.6 in 47 games as a rookie, including eight starts.
Napier was a first-round pick by Charlotte last year and traded to
Miami, where he averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 assists in 51 games as a
rookie. He was traded to Orlando for a second-round pick and cash
considerations in July.
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Payton played in all 82 games as a rookie, averaging 8.9 points and
a team-high 6.5 assists while starting 63 games. Selected 10th
overall by Philadelphia last year, he was acquired by the Magic in
June 2014 for the draft rights to Dario Saric, a future first-round
pick and a future second-round pick.
--
The Detroit Pistons exercised the team options on the contracts of
guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Reggie Bullock, while
requesting waivers on guard Ryan Boatright.
Caldwell-Pope has averaged 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 162 games
through his first two NBA seasons, while Bullock was acquired from
the Phoenix Suns in July.
Bullock averaged 10.7 points and 1.8 assists in six preseason games.
Bullock was originally a first-round pick by the Los Angeles
Clippers in 2013. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))
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