Rambis to take over as Timberwolves head coach

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers assistant  coach Kurt Rambis has agreed to the terms of a contract to  become the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team  said yesterday.

Rambis, 51, spent 10 seasons on the Lakers’ bench.

“After a six-week search and thorough interview process, I  feel that in Kurt Rambis we have found the best person to lead  and develop our young team as head coach,” Timberwolves  President of Basketball Operations David Kahn said in a  statement on the team’s website  (http://www.nba.com/timberwolves)
“Kurt is talented and hard-working, and his many years in  the NBA as a player, administrator and coach have prepared him  well for this opportunity.”

Twelve games into the 1998-99 season, Rambis took over as  the Lakers’ interim head coach and compiled a 24-13 record while  leading the team to the Western Conference semi-finals.

Rambis, who played 14 seasons in the NBA, takes over for  Kevin McHale, who was fired by the Timberwolves in June after  the team’s 24-58 season.
Meanwhile the Boston Celtics have re-signed forward Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, the NBA team said yesterday.

Terms of the contract were not announced but according to local media reports the deal is for two years.

A Boston fan favourite, the 6-foot-9-inch, 289-pound Davis averaged seven points and four rebounds last season but the 23-year-old upped his production in the playoffs averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.