Grizzlies to name Sid Lowe head coach

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Grizzlies called a news conference for Thursday and were expected to introduce Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Sidney Lowe as their new coach.

Grizzlies president Dick Versace has been negotiating with Lowe, a former NBA player and head coach with the Timberwolves, for the past few weeks. Several reports have said Lowe has agreed to accept the job.

Lowe was a member of North Carolina State's 1983 national championship team, then spent parts of four seasons in the NBA playing for Charlotte, Indiana, Atlanta, Detroit and Minnesota.

Over the last seven seasons, Lowe has spent time as an assistant coach in Cleveland and Minnesota. He was the Wolves' head coach from January 1993 until the end of the 1993-94 season. During that stretch he compiled a 33-102 mark.

Brian Hill was fired as Vancouver's coach in December and was replaced by Lionel Hollins. The Grizzlies finished with a 22-60 record.