According to a report from Charley Walters, Mark Jackson is all but certain to become the next head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The former NBA point guard has most recently served as an analyst on ESPN, but he has no previous coaching experience.

FC Barcelona is close to making Ricky Rubio a five-year offer worth $1.4 million annually with an escape clause allowing him to play in the NBA after two years.

Rubio was paid just $97,000 last season by DKV Joventut.

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn is interested in bringing Rodney Carney back for the 2009-10 season.

However, the Star Tribune reports that it's unlikely that Minnesota will do so until they can make other roster moves.

Mark Jackson and Kurt Rambis appear to be the leading candidates for Minnesota's vacant head coaching position.

Rockets assistant Elston Turner is on the short list as well. Timberwolves general manager David Kahn is conducting his second round of interviews with the top candidates.

League executives have long considered Jackson the favorite to land the job, but Rambis is apparently getting strong consideration.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired veteran center Etan Thomas, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. In addition to Thomas, Oklahoma City receives Minnesota?s 2010 second round draft pick and a conditional 2010 second round draft pick in exchange for guards Chucky Atkins and Damien Wilkins.

?We are pleased to welcome Etan Thomas to the Thunder family,? said Presti. ?Etan adds experience and depth to our front court as well as a defensive mentality and competitiveness that we value.?

Bill Duffy, agent for players like Steve Nash, believed Ricky Rubio was one of the more overrated players of the 2009 NBA Draft.

"To be honest with you, the other kid, Brandon Jennings, who played in Italy, ranked higher," said Duffy, referring to his client, a point guard who was picked 10th by Milwaukee. "I had three other first-round point guards, but I didn't have [Rubio] ranked that high. I think he is pretty good, but I think he might be a little hyped up.

"He is a flashy guy and he is young, but I think it is a lot of hype. I mean, he will be a good player, but they are trying to compare him with my guy Steve Nash or John Stockton -- I don't see that."

Ricky Rubio could sign a two-year deal with Real Madrid, according to reports.

The reports indicate that Madrid would have to pay three million euros in order to sign Rubio, a reduction from the five million that has been mentioned.

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn was in Spain this week trying to help facilitate Rubio's buy out with DKV Joventut and help bring the point guard to the NBA.

The Star Tribune has reported that the Timberwolves lost $19 million last year.

According to the report, a number of stockholders are beginning to get nervous about the mounting losses.

Ricky Rubio plans to leave DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to bring their first round draft pick to the NBA.

Rubio is at odds with his boyhood club over an $8.2 million buyout clause, which the NBA team can only contribute $500,000 toward.

Regardless of whether the 18-year-old Rubio makes the trip across the Atlantic next season, he says he won't be playing at Joventut.

"I want to continue with the club but, after everything that's happened, I don't think they're too comfortable having me in their squad," Rubio said Wednesday. "I want to play in a winning team, on a team that can achieve many things."

Quentin Richardson has already been traded three times this summer and could be dealt again, according to a report in the Pioneer Press.

Richardson was initially dealt to Memphis by the Knicks for Darko Milicic, followed by a move back to the Clippers for Zach Randolph.  This week he was traded to Minnesota in a package for Sebastian Telfair and Craig Smith.