Kahn, McHale meet; decision expected this week

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Kevin McHale

David Kahn asked media members for quiet time because he said attention generated in the first two meetings created a "breathless, moment-by-moment" situation.

Last update: June 9, 2009 - 7:11 AM

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Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn and Kevin McHale on Monday met at length for a third time to discuss the team's coaching job, and a decision about McHale's future with the franchise is likely to be made sometime this week.

Kahn last week asked media members for quiet time to determine who will be the next coach because he said the attention generated in the first two meetings created an undesirable "breathless, moment-by-moment" situation.

Asked by text message Monday night if he was in a prolonged period of radio silence about the matter and if a decision might come this week, Kahn answered simply, "Shhh."

If McHale does not return to coach with a multi-year contract, Kahn is expected to begin a search, although he has said it is not imperative he have a coach in place by the June 25 draft.

Former NBA coaches Sam Mitchell, Avery Johnson and Jeff Van Gundy and current Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau are available candidates. A dark-horse possibility is former Atlanta, Cleveland and Memphis coach Mike Fratello, the longtime television commentator who was part of the NBC broadcast crew when Kahn worked on the network's "Showtime" NBA show in the early 1990s. Fratello last coached the Grizzlies in 2006.

JERRY ZGODA