Report: T-Wolves hiring Kurt Rambis

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis will become the next head coach in Minneota Monday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

The newspaper said Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor confirmed an earlier ESPN story and that Taylor expects Rambis to formally sign the contract Monday.

He will replace the fired Kevin McHale.

"Kurt, with his experience playing and coaching for a winning organization and working under people like Pat Riley, will bring a lot to our organization," Taylor told the newspaper late Saturday. "In meeting with him and talking to him, I know he's very excited about having an opportunity to help build his own team."

Rambis, 51, played with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when the Lakers won four NBA titles -- 1981-82, 1984-85, 1986-87 and 1987-88 -- and was their interim coach in 1999 (25-13) after Del Harris was fired.