Turner told FOX 26 Sports Thursday his second interview took place Saturday in Las Vegas.
Turner said he met again with the Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn.
“David and I met Saturday in Las Vegas,” Turner said. “There are a lot of guys who would like this job and a lot of guys who applied for it.
“I’m blessed I was called back.”
Timberwolves first-round pick Ricky Rubio received his award for 2008 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year on Thursday. The 18-year-old guard is the first player to win the award two years in a row.
“I’m proud to receive this award two years in a row because it proves I am working hard,” Rubio said after receiving the award.
Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol, Rubio’s teammate on the Spanish national team, was awarded FIBA Europe Player of the Year. Spain is getting ready for the European tournament EuroBasket 2009, which begins in Poland next week.
“Pau and Ricky are two of the most exciting players in the world, and it will be a pleasure to see both of them on the floor together,” FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin said at the ceremony.
Are the Wolves stock piling trade assets or just ‘balancing’ the roster? It seems Kahn is preparing for a major trade or a major let down.
(3:15 PM)
No, they’re cutting money. The Clippers trade was entirely to cut the obligation to pay Telfair next year, with Smith as the bait. The Atkins trade was entirely to cut money too, as they’ll waive Chucky’s non-guaranteed deal. They won’t have to pay their No. 5 pick for two more years and they seem pretty OK with that, and the only free agent they’re making any noise about is re-signing Carney.
Since then, Kahn has made a huge trade, conducted a bizarre draft, flew to Spain to work on Ricky Rubio’s buyout, made another trade, and finally made a small trade. Only six players have survived his two-month purge.
Along the way, Kahn also interviewed some candidates but still has three or four in mind. Still in the mix is Mark Jackson, whom PBN reported was the leading candidate about five minutes after the job became open.
If you were a candidate, would you like to know if certain players will be there on the first day of training camp? Yeah, me too.
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