NBA Rumors: T-Wolves Working to Keep HC Ryan Saunders, GM Scott Layden

The Minnesota Timberwolves are "finalizing plans" to retain general manager Scott Layden and head coach Ryan Saunders, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

However, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic offered a report stating that the Wolves are looking into hiring a president of basketball operations who will eventually determine Layden and Saunders' futures with the team:

The duo assumed powers after president of basketball operations and head coach Tom Thibodeau was relieved of his duties on Jan. 6.

The Timberwolves have gone just 17-24 since Thibodeau left, but the Timberwolves have also endured numerous injuries to starters. Namely, starting point guard Jeff Teague has missed 39 games, and Robert Covington has sat 45 contests.

It's hard to judge Layden and Saunders on the team's second-half performance given a trying year that featured the Thibodeau firing and drama surrounding Jimmy Butler before the T-Wolves eventually traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers.

However, running the Timberwolves franchise will be a tough proposition for whomever takes over in the offseason.

Minnesota has been mired in mediocrity for years, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The Wolves have the third-most money committed against the 2020-21 salary cap and the most versus the 2021-22 cap, per HoopsHype.

A lot of that is for Andrew Wiggins, who is shooting a career-low 41.0 percent from the field this season. Per Basketball Reference, Wiggins also has a career-low 12.3 player efficiency rating and a minus-3.0 box plus/minus.

The T-Wolves, who have the NBA's 10th-worst record, also aren't in place to get a top lottery pick barring some luck in the draft lottery. And with All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns manning the middle, it's hard seeing the Wolves ever bottoming out enough to get a better chance at a higher draft selection in the future.

Ultimately, Minnesota could be stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity regardless of who is in charge.