The Wolves are under pressure to start considering trade scenarios for Kevin Love, who's anxious to exercise his early termination option (ETO) in the summer of 2015 and leave as a free agent.
"For the first time, [Saunders] sounds like looking at deals for [Love] is an option," one rival executive told Yahoo Sports.
The Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are among many teams determined to make hard runs at trades for Love.