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Philadelphia 76ers assistant Quin Snyder has been interviewed by Kahn, an NBA coach with knowledge of the situation said Monday night. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Kurt Rambis, Quin Snyder 

Kahn, who hired Snyder to coach the Toros, was unavailable for comment, and a Rambis representative said Monday evening that there had been no communication from Kahn or Wolves owner Glen Taylor regarding Rambis' status. The NBA coach said Snyder also is considering an offer to join the staff of new Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Kurt Rambis, Quin Snyder 

Buchanan said Minnesota has not asked for permission to speak to assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff. Several media reports this past weekend suggested that the Timberwolves – who still have not fired coach Kurt Rambis, as many expect – would hire Bickerstaff and have him run the team for several seasons, then hand the reins over to son J.B., a current Minnesota assistant. Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff, Kurt Rambis 

Is Rambis fired? David Kahn: No, in fact I was talking to his agent (Friday) morning, and we're still having discussions. I feel, first of all, very badly, because Kurt Rambis is a great guy, and I mean that sincerely. And a really great family man. He's got a beautiful family. He's a smart basketball man. I think he and I both, maybe at times, as much as I told him over and over how difficult this would be -- when you inherit what we inherited roster-wise, and you're trying to rebuild, and really the first year was almost excavation more than rebuild, this is painful, and it's hard. And I think that what we've probably seen is maybe both of us underestimated how hard this would be. I wouldn't say that it's not that we're on the same page. I do know this year Kurt felt, for whatever reason, the weight of expectations. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Kurt Rambis 

Why no decision yet? David Kahn: I felt very strongly at the end of the season, especially the way it ended, if Kurt and I had tried to have a productive discussion about where do we go from here, I don't think it would have ended very well. It's just too raw at the end of the season, and I encouraged him strongly to go home, decompress and relax, because we needed to talk about changing things, among other things. I waited to hear from him, and I didn't hear, and I think his agent kind of jumped in, and I'll take, again, the responsibility. And maybe it took a couple weeks more than it should have. But I remember he was here for some workouts on May 24, and I said to him, 'You know, Kurt, I really think we've got to change a lot of things about the way the team is being coached,' and I really encouraged him to put those things in writing ... In other words, I didn't want to be the one dictating the change, or telling him how it had to be. That's not healthy. It really needed to flow out of him. So the next week, when he said he didn't know the process, that was kind of unfair, because he did. He knew that he had been promised a meeting, and a lengthy meeting, or a series of meetings to discuss where we go from here. And those meetings occurred just last Thursday and Friday, literally a week ago. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Kurt Rambis 

The hot rumor Thursday was that, as a money-saving move with an NBA lockout looming, the Timberwolves will promote assistant J.B. Bickerstaff to succeed Kurt Rambis as coach. The plan would be for Bickerstaff, 32, a former Gophers guard, to be head coach on a short-term basis, but that could be extended depending on success. His father, former NBA head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who turns 68 in February, would be hired as an assistant and mentor. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff, Kurt Rambis 

Meanwhile, the other word circulating in basketball circles was that Sam Mitchell and Kelvin Sampson also have been among considerations to replace Rambis. Rambis' firing appears imminent. A little birdie says Mitchell, the former Timberwolves player who was the NBA's coach of the year in 2006-07 with the Toronto Raptors, had a lengthy, informal meeting with a top Wolves official after the season. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Sam Mitchell, Bernie Bickerstaff, Kelvin Sampson, Kurt Rambis 

Ray Richardson: It's mid-afternoon today and Rambis & reps still have not had any contact from Wolves since 'news' leaked last night that he has been fired. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Ray Richardson: Rambis reps still have not been told that he's been fired--if he's been fired. Kahn telling Wolves people he has not let Rambis go. Hmmm! Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff, Kurt Rambis 

The Wolves will not officially part ways with Rambis until after Thursday's NBA draft, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN's Andy Katz. Wolves general manager David Kahn didn't return messages left by The Associated Press and a team spokesman said, "We're not going to comment on speculation." A source close to Rambis told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that Rambis' firing is not true. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Draft, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Speaking of the Wolves, team officials continued to say Wednesday night that coach Kurt Rambis hasn't been fired yet, but the more things like that are stated, the more obvious it becomes that Rambis is gone. The search for a replacement will begin soon after the draft. CBSSports.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Ramona Shelburne: By the way, if Rambis is indeed being fired, it'll be done over the phone. He's in LA right now. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has decided to fire coach Kurt Rambis, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Kurt Rambis 

Kahn isn’t expected to announce the decision until after Thursday’s NBA draft, but he’s already begun collecting information on prospective replacements for Rambis, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Kurt Rambis 

Rambis' future isn't nearly as certain, and hasn't been since the season ended more than two months ago. Rambis didn't attend Tuesday's news conference that introduced Rubio and Kahn said he doubts Rambis will attend Thursday's draft but said they've been "working closely" together on it. Kahn and Rambis met for more than six hours over two days last week. Kahn called those meetings "very positive" and said he hopes to meet with owner Glen Taylor about the matter this week. "I've been in contact with Kurt and I think we have an understanding of where we're at in the process," he said. "I wouldn't say we're at a comfort level because I recognize this is painful for everybody involved, or at least awkward at a minimum. But I think we understand where we're at. All in due time." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn says he wants to meet with owner Glen Taylor before making a decision on coach Kurt Rambis. Kahn says he met with Rambis for more than six hours last week to discuss the possibility of the coach returning for a third season. He says the process has been "painful and awkward" but promised a decision "in due time." Rambis was not in town Tuesday for Ricky Rubio's introductory news conference, and he will not be there for Thursday's draft, either. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Glen Taylor, Kurt Rambis 

Ray Richardson: Kahn said he and Rambis have "reached an understanding on things." Is that a good sign for Rambis? But Rambis not involved in draft process. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Kurt Rambis 

Jerry Zgoda: Kahn when asked if Rambis' absence this week isn't an obvious answer about his future: "You're overthinking it, no." Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Look for Minnesota to relieve Kurt Rambis of his head coaching duties, possibly within the next couple of weeks. Still, there are some league insiders who claim Rambis could still retain his job by firing at least two of his assistant coaches. Racine Journal-Times

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kurt Rambis 

Asked if he wanted the Wolves job, Casey pointed out that the position isn't open, and he refused to lobby for it. Wolves "management" has yet to announce any decision on incumbent Kurt Rambis. Somehow, Wolves "management" has turned one of the losingest coaches in the history of a losing franchise into a sympathetic figure by letting him dangle, months after David Kahn all but fired him in a postseason press conference. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Kurt Rambis