"Rick Adelman is about to step into perhaps the most daunting challenge of his 20-year coaching career in the NBA.

If the league's labor dispute is settled and the season saved, Adelman will have to restore confidence in a young Timberwolves team that finished with the league's worst record last season. He also faces the task of battling the organization's losing tradition - no playoff appearances since 2004.

Even more unusual for Adelman, who ranks eighth among NBA coaches in all-time wins, is the possibility he will do most of his communicating with Wolves owner Glen Taylor instead of team president of basketball operations David Kahn.

A report on Yahoo Sports claimed Adelman was wary of dealing primarily with Kahn in the interview process, prompting Taylor to take a more active role in the talks.

"Rick would never agree to anything with Kahn," a league official connected to Adelman told Yahoo Sports. "This had to be a deal with Taylor. Rick has talked many times of his dislike for Kahn." "