Wolves' picture coming into focus on coach, Rubio, draft

Two months after the regular season's end, one week before the NBA draft and one day before Ricky Rubio announced that he's Minnesota bound, Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis and boss David Kahn finally sat down for two days of expected meetings intended to address the season past and the future.

Both Rambis and team owner Glen Taylor observed Thursday's separate Target Center workouts featuring Arizona forward Derrick Williams and Turkish center Enes Kanter, the two most viable candidates for that second overall pick if Cleveland indeed grabs Duke guard Kyrie Irving first.

Might a decision on Rambis' future come soon, perhaps as soon as Friday?

When it does arrive, it will further clarify a picture coming into focus with Rubio's announcement on Friday in Barcelona and a draft process in which the Wolves own both the second and 20th picks.

On Thursday, Rubio called a Friday news conference in which he announced he indeed signed a NBA contract with the Wolves on May 31 and that all the paperwork involving the international basketball governing body FIBA and the NBA had been cleared after his European season ended with a Spanish league championship victory on Tuesday.

He went to bed Thursday tweeting this, translated here from Spanish into English: "Goodnight everyone. Tomorrow morning I give a press conference to say my future. A hug and see you tomorrow."

He is expected to be introduced as a Timberwolves player at Target Center next week.

Afterward, Wolves assistant GM Tony Ronzone called Kanter -- a 6-11 teenager who signed to play at Kentucky last season but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA because of financial benefits received from his Turkish team -- "an option" with that second pick.

Ronzone also said that Williams' ballhandling skills in drills against guards impressed him for a combo forward who stands 6-8.

For weeks, Kahn has not publicly addressed Rambis' future as coach. On Thursday, Ronzone was asked if the team's scouting process has been altered because of such uncertainty.

"Doesn't play a factor," he said. "Bottom line is, we have to find the best talent available. We've got to get players who can play at a high level. Whoever that might be, we're going to find them. We need players."

Irving and Williams generally are considered the top two players in a draft that's believed to be deep but lacking a superstar.

On Thursday, Ronzone said that he was "happy" with that second pick, indicating the team is prepared to stay where it is now and take Williams if he indeed is there.

"You just can't pass up on guys and get creative and try to get another guy," Ronzone said. "He's a talent. He can play. You look at what he did this year at Arizona and his upside. He just started to play a few years ago, and every year he just keeps getting better and better. That's what I like about him."

Williams has been working out with Timberwolves' Wes Johnson and Michael Beasley in Los Angeles during recent weeks. All three players are 6-7 or 6-8 small-forward types.

Williams was asked if there's room on the same team for three guys who might be most naturally suited to play the same position.