By Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports:
Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis is on the brink of becoming the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, multiple league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

After meeting with Timberwolves executives, including owner Glen Taylor, Rambis was working on assembling a coaching staff in anticipation of receiving a formal offer on Thursday, sources said.

Rambis is expected to hire Dave Wohl as his top assistant, an Eastern Conference executive said. Let go as an assistant GM in Boston this summer, Wohl has a close relationship with Rambis and has nearly 25 years of NBA coaching experience. It is believed that one current Minnesota assistant – possibly Ed Pinckney or Dean Cooper – could stay to be a part of Rambis’ staff.


Rambis’ hiring could have a positive impact on the Wolves’ chances of luring the fifth overall pick in the draft, Spain’s Ricky Rubio(notes). Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, is fond of Rambis.
From Ken Berger/CBS Sports:
Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis has traveled to Minnesota to meet for a third time with Timberwolves officials about the team’s long-vacant head coaching job. A person with direct knowledge of the talks confirmed that Rambis has emerged as the favorite to succeed Kevin McHale and is awaiting a formal contract proposal…

Rambis, who helped coach the Lakers to their 15th NBA title in June, has emerged as the favorite partly due to Fegan’s fondness for him — the theory being that hiring a coach Rubio finds acceptable would enhance the chances of the 18-year-old point guard reporting to Minnesota rather than continuing to play overseas.
Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn had no comment Wednesday night on reports that Rambis had flown to the Twin Cities to meet with team officials.

Rambis is one of three finalists for the job, along with ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson and Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner.
Kurt Rambis appears to be the odds-on favorite to become coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. An announcement of his hiring could come Thursday.
In today’s Smack we took a look at the three supposed finalists – Rambis, Mark Jackson and Elston Turner – and the fact that Rambis reportedly turned down the head-coaching offer from the Kings earlier this summer. The Times is reporting that the Minnesota contract would be at least three years in length, whereas the Kings offer was thought to be only for two years.

Rambis’ is credited with directing the Lakers’ defense this past season. Not a bad thing to have on your resume.