Just got a text from a league source on the Wolves’ contract negotiations with Kurt Rambis:

“They’re getting close.”

Guaranteed years are the big issue with Rambis, who will be entrusted with rebuilding a team that is even younger than the one that won just 46 games the past two seasons.

Sounds like it will take a four-year deal to get it done, probably at $2 million or more a season.

If he does get four years, that will be one year longer than his boss, president of basketball operations David Kahn.

The deal likely will be completed Friday, which doesn’t necessarily mean, though, it will be announced Friday.

The Timberwolves’ coaching search isn’t over yet, but it appears to be just a matter of time.

Barring an unforeseen snag, Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis is expected to accept a four-year contract worth about $8 million, if not today, then soon.

Rambis was expected to receive that offer Thursday after flying to the Twin Cities a day earlier to meet with owner Glen Taylor and other Wolves officials.

ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson has long been considered the favorite for the job, but the Wolves apparently decided they needed to hire someone with coaching experience.

From Ramona Shelburne’s twitter account:
T-Wolves and Rambis talking about an agreement and “hopeful,” according to a source, but nothing final just yet

All signs Thursday pointed toward the Timberwolves hiring Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis as their new head coach soon, if not today then by early next week.

Rambis already reportedly is putting together a coaching staff that will include Boston assistant general manager Dave Wohl, who was New Jersey’s head coach and a Lakers assistant in the 1980s, as his top assistant.

But rumors swirled all day Thursday concerning the hiring of Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis. Yes, THAT Kurt Rambis. Arch-enemy to Kevin McHale during the height of the Lakers-Celtics wars of the 1980s. The grit behind the glitter of L.A. Showtime. An all-out, down-and-dirty forward who inspired through effort. A regular-looking guy who, with his thick, horn-rimmed glasses inspired one of the coolest fan clubs of all time: Rambis Youth.

Rambis also happens to be the hottest coaching commodity out there. He played for Pat Riley and worked under Phil Jackson. His jewelry box contains seven championship rings, including four as a player. Rambis also has a bit of head coaching experience, taking over for the fired Del Harris during the strike-shortened 1998-1999 season and going 24-13.

Remember that Kahn is peddling change, not victories, this season. Rambis would be a splendid change of pace from the status quo of retread head coaches. Plus, from all accounts, he is very good at his job. Last season, he worked almost exclusively with the Lakers’ defense. It showed.

Sandy Cunningham, who was former VP Kevin McHale’s administrative assistant with the Timberwolves and had been with the organization since 1989, has departed.

That was Timberwolf Corey Brewer and Lynx star Candice Wiggins at the Seven restaurant in downtown Minneapolis the other day.

There were a lot of intriguing, highly-thought-of GM candidates available this summer. The Wolves chose the one, Kahn, who had been out of the NBA for seven years and never had been a general manager.

There were a lot of intriguing, highly-thought-of coaching candidates available this summer, including Sam Mitchell, Jeff Van Gundy and Avery Johnson. The Wolves appear to be close to choosing one who never has been a full-time head coach.

Maybe Kahn is a genius and Rambis will overachieve as much on the sideline as he did on the court.

“Maybe” is such a kind word.

The Timberwolves, still without a head coach, announced Thursday they’ll open preseason play on Oct. 5 at Bresnan Arena in Mankato. The Wolves will follow the opener with their only two preseason Target Center appearances, Oct. 9 vs. Toronto and Oct. 14 vs. Chicago, before heading out on the road for five games.