Sam Mitchell News

The Minnesota Timberwolves ' deliberate coaching search will soon move into its next phase with ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson , Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Houston Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner expected to progress to the deciding round of interviews, according to NBA coaching sources.

Like Ricky Rubio's contract situation, the Timberwolves' coaching search is an ongoing process, and it's still too early to say how or when either will end.

The Timberwolves' coaching search has its first confirmed candidate. Portland Trail Blazers assistant Monty Williams told The Oregonian on Wednesday that he will interview for the position, perhaps as early as this weekend.

Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams will interview for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching position, perhaps as early as this weekend, Williams said Wednesday.

ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson is the presumed favorite to become Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, but Charles Barkley, on his Web site , made a pitch for former NBA coach Del Harris.

Kevin McHale has finally been removed from the Timberwolves franchise, and new GM David Kahn has taken over.

Waiting until after the draft to hire a coach isn't the norm in the NBA or any other league, but there are precedents.

A special perk comes with Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen's basketball camp, which runs Monday through Friday at Champlin Park High School .

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn has said he will wait until after Thursday's NBA draft to begin a coaching search for Kevin McHale's successor, but ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson already has been branded as the early favorite.

The search isn't scheduled to begin until after the June 25 NBA draft, but what the Timberwolves are looking for in their next coach sounds a lot like the one they just let go.

After 17 years with the Timberwolves, the Kevin McHale era ended not with a bang but a tweet.

Posted at 3:54 PM on June 10, 2009 by Chris Dall Now that new Timberwolves GM David Kahn is settling into his new digs, it's time to start asking just exactly who is going to coach the team next year.