Adelman or Mitchell would be good

The Minnesota Timberwolves are still without a coach, though they will have interviewed seven of them by the time this week is over.

There are some relatively big names in the group, at least if you want to live in the past. Those past-their-prime guys are Don Nelson and Larry Brown. I'd hate to see either of them get this job. Not only are they old and not likely to relate well to the youngest team in the league, but one is a free-wheeling offensive guy (Nelson) who never seemed to preach much defense, while the other is a controlling fella whose teams never seemed to score much (Brown).

There are two coaches in that list of seven who I'd be happy with the Wolves choosing. My first choice is Rick Adelman, my second Sam Mitchell.

Adelman isn't exactly a youngster, either, at 65. But he has won, doing it in a big way in Portland and in Sacramento. His offenses are relatively free-flowing (minus the zaniness of Nelson), which seems to be a prerequisite of Wolves GM David Kahn. And his teams have played enough defense to advance far in the playoffs.

One more thing to like about Adelman is that he is close to Kevin Love. Adelman's son and Love played on the same Oregon high school team. If Love likes the new coach, he figures to be more inclined to sign for the long term with Minnesota, something this franchise aches to have happen with its only All-Star.

The downside of Adelman is that so far he doesn't sound terribly interested in this job, or possibly any NBA coaching job right now. But we'll see about that, if the money is just right.

Then there's Mitchell. He coached for four-plus years in Toronto, and in 2006-07 was the NBA Coach of the Year. Directing a franchise that was never long in talent, Mitchell finished with a 156-189 record in his stint in Toronto.

There are a number of things to like about Mitchell. One is he's young, having played alongside Kevin Garnett when the Wolves were actually respectable. He is also considered hard-nosed. On a team with a bunch of young players, especially the talented but often unfocused Michael Beasley, a kick in the backside would work from a guy who has recently played in the league. Mitchell wouldn't back down from anybody on this roster.

Finally, Mitchell is someone Wolves fans could relate to and respect, as a guy they watched play for this franchise, and who did it in a workmanlike way.

Adelman or Mitchell. Either would be good. But the rest of the list — Terry Porter, Mike Woodson, Bernie Bickerstaff, Nelson and Brown — no thanks.

— Pat Ruff