Just hours after losing center Rasho Nesterovic as a free agent to San Antonio, the Timberwolves found a replacement in Los Angeles Clippers free agent Michael Olowokandi.

A source close to the negotiations said the Wolves will announce today the signing of Olowokandi, a 7-foot, 270-pound center, to a free-agent contract. It is believed that team owner Glen Taylor, Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale and coach Flip Saunders were in California Wednesday night settling the details of the deal with agent Bill Duffy. Duffy is also the agent for Nesterovic, who Tuesday announced he would sign a six-year, $42 million contract with the Spurs when the free agency signing period begins today.

Taylor, McHale and Duffy did not return calls Tuesday. However, Duffy confirmed Olowokandi would join the Wolves in an interview with ESPN.com.

The news put a dramatically different spin on a day that began with the appearance of a Wolves team in trouble. On Monday, free-agent forward Juwan Howard decided to spurn the Wolves in favor of Orlando. Tuesday came word that Nesterovic had chosen the Spurs after spending five seasons with the Wolves.

Suddenly, an offseason that was all about improvement seemed to have become a very rocky road. But, in a statement released by the team Tuesday afternoon, McHale hinted a move might be coming.

"Though we were hopeful that Rasho would re-sign with our team, we have been preparing for this scenario and we are already working on potential replacements," McHale said.

In Olowokandi, the Wolves get an athletic player who was the first overall pick by the Clippers in 1998, the year Nesterovic was chosen 17th by the Wolves. He is a quick, able defender and rebounder who averaged 9.9 points and 8.0 rebounds in his first five seasons.