Re: Clippers Will Try To Hire Jeff Van Gundy For Assistant Coach Job

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Clippers have "strong interest" in adding Jeff Van Gunde to their coaching staff under Tyronn Lue next season.

The Clippers reportedly also have a "strong chance" of successfully hiring him. The Clippers have an opening on Lue's staff following the departure of Dan Craig to the Chicago Bulls.

Van Gundy has worked as a consultant for the Boston Celtics this season after he was laid off by ESPN. Van Gundy has been a constance presence alongside Brad Stevens during the Finals. The Dallas Mavericks attempted to hire Van Gundy last offseason under Jason Kidd.

Van Gundy last had a bench role in 06-07 as head coach of the Houston Rockets. 

Via Marc Stein/The Stein Line

[FeatheryTouch]

Why assistant coach and not head coach somewhere? He's got the experience and high profile...unless he just wants to spend a low-stress season as an assistant or consultant before he's hired next year as the lead color guy for NBC's new TV package.

[rocketsfan100]

Fantastic move by balmer. This guy is a genius on defense…

[njknicks]

JVG is a head coach - not an assistant.

Olympics / Head Coach / ESPN analyst

Tremendous hire for any team & hope he gets the call.

[Wammy Giveaway]

If the Clipper's can't bring in any new players, and are forced to re-sign their ones in contract, then just upgrade the coaching staff. This tells me the Clippers are bringing back the exact same roster from last season.

Don't know much about Jeff Van Gundy except his uncanny participation in a brawl and being the first coach to ever take an 8th seed to the NBA Finals. The latter might be the key here, since everyone is excepting the Clippers to be competitively mediocre - half of the time tankers, half of the time contenders, all the while stuck in the middle between playoffs and lottery, the proverbial bubble/play-in/qualifier. If there is anyone who can make a surprise out of middling teams, it's going to be Jeff.