Flip Saunders to coach Wolves, wants Chauncey Billups as an assistant coach

Flip Saunders just pulled a Dick Cheney and in his capacity as general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves decided that the best head coach for the Wolves would be none other than Flip Saunders. Fancy that.

And now the former Detroit Pistons head coach is eyeing current Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, who also played for Saunders in both Minnesota and Detroit, as an assistant coach, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

That would mean, of course, that Billups would trade in his sneakers for a pair of Oxfords. This shouldn't come as a surprise to Pistons fans as Billups was unlikely to see his $2.5 million option picked up by the team and it was clear the oft-injured guard had seen his best days pass him by. Retirement was the most likely option.

What is surprising, however, is that Saunders would eye Billups as a coach and not an executive. Billups has always said he saw his future in the front office moreso than holding a clipboard.

Perhaps this is a means to that end, however. Saunders seems like he was unimpressed with the current stable of available head coaches, and despite this detour he might still see his longterm future in the front office. If so, perhaps this is just a way to have his future right-hand man in Billups at his side. First as a coach, next in the front office.

Whatever the future holds for Billups, I'll be rooting for his success. And while it didn't work out in his second stint in Detroit, I'll always appreciate him returning to don the Pistons red, white and blue and remember the opening night game fondly.