Kurt Rambis was seen boarding a plane Wednesday morning to meet again with Minnesota Timberwolves officials, a strong sign that the Lakers’ assistant coach will be hired to coach the Timberwolves.

Rambis has already had a second interview with Minnesota, and the only step left is to talk with team owner Glen Taylor, who has said publicly he would be the final part in the decision-making process.

The longtime Laker has already met with new Timberwolves General Manager David Kahn. Rambis would get the nod for the position over two other candidates — TV analyst Mark Jackson and Houston Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner.
Earlier, Yahoo! Sports reported that Rambis had emerged as the front-runner in a three-man race that also includes ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson and Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner.

Citing a source close to Rambis, the report went on to say that he has not been offered the job but that “multiple people with knowledge of the search” say one is expected soon.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn had no comment on that report and could not immediately be reached for comment on the Los Angeles Times story.

Kahn and owner Glen Taylor have said they hope to have a coach by the end of the week.

Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik still hasn’t heard from Minnesota about being the top assistant for the Timberwolves’ next coach. If he does get the call, according to multiple sources, then he’s likely gone and assistant Steve McClain would be the top choice to replace him.

Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site talked to David Kahn about the Ryan Hollins deal
David Kahn: We’ve had our eye on Ryan, really, we talked about him even internally during the draft period, not because he was in the draft of course, but as we were thinking of ways to improve the team as you always do when you are in a war room. We really thought his length, his athleticism and his youth combined made him an attractive fit as a complementary piece to both Al (Jefferson) and Kevin (Love). Neither Al nor Kevin are, frankly, big, explosive jumpers and shot blockers.

But this kid, we think, can develop into such a player. And yet he’s not really a starting player, at least doesn’t seem to be at this point of his career, so he’s not going to take much away in terms of minutes from Al or Kevin. I just see it as a nice complementary fit.

We’re really happy to have him on the team. We think he makes us immediately better or an easier way for us to matchup against certain teams in the conference, especially the Lakers and Trail Blazers. We’re very happy to get him.

From Matt Steinmetz/Fanhouse: Bouncin’ Around: Grgurich’s Camp Going on Quietly in Las Vegas
NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich is holding his annual summer camp in Las Vegas this week. And believe it, what happens at that camp is going to stay at that camp.

It’s Grgurich’s way.

About 60 NBA players — from soon-to-be rookies to veterans — are taking part in the camp, which is held in a high school gym. The camp also has become a showcase for rising assistant coaches, who just like players, are hoping to catch the eye of a GM or front office type. And there are plenty of them there.

Some of the players who have shown up so far this week: veterans Baron Davis, Kevin Love, Anthony Morrow, C.J. Watson, Eric Gordon and Javaris Crittenton; and recent draftees Brandon Jennings, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Jonny Flynn and Austin Daye.

From TrueHoop: Ten Summer Stories to Watch
1. Minnesota Has a New Coach
There was the potential for a ton of coaching upheaval this offseason. As the season concluded, there was chatter — which didn’t pan out — about change in New Jersey, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago and Golden State. Meanwhile Philadelphia, Detroit, Sacramento and Washington will all enter the fall with new leaders (Eddie Jordan, John Kuester, Paul Westphal and Flip Saunders, respectively).

And then there’s Minnesota. New Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn has put his imprint on the team in fundamental ways — by shipping out half the roster and making a big splash in the draft. But Kahn’s most profound change came in parting ways with Kevin McHale — who had defined and guided the team’s first two decades as an executive and coach.

Who will Kahn choose? He has been thorough and painstaking. (July 7 quote: “We’re a third of the way through preliminary interviews.”) Reports have ESPN’s Mark Jackson, Laker assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Rocket assistant Elston Turner as the finalists, and the team owner has intimated the process could be concluded soon.