Longtime NBA head coach and current Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy is one of three finalists for the Portland Trail Blazers’ opening, according to reports.
Van Gundy, 64, has been on Tyronn Lue’s staff with the Clippers for the past two seasons after a brief turn with the Boston Celtics as a consultant in basketball operations and 16-year broadcasting stint with ESPN as the network’s top color analyst.
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The Trail Blazers formally requested permission from the Clippers to interview Van Gundy for their opening, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported. Van Gundy is believed to be a finalist for the position along with current interim coach Tiago Splitter and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, according to reporter Marc Stein.
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In 11 seasons as head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, Van Gundy compiled a 430-318 record and a 44-44 mark in the postseason. His teams made the playoffs in nine of those 11 seasons with the 1998-99 Knicks going to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
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Splitter, 41, coached Portland to a 42-39 record and playoff berth as the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed after taking over for Chauncey Billups, who was arrested for alleged involvement in a gambling operation. He was in his first year as an assistant on Billups’ staff before being elevated to the top job. Splitter has also reportedly drawn interest from the Chicago Bulls.
Previously, Splitter has coached with the Brooklyn Nets and Rockets, in addition to the Brazilian national team. He played seven seasons in the NBA with the Spurs (winning a championship with their 2014 team), Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Nori, 52, has been an assistant on Chris Finch’s staff in Minnesota for the past six seasons, the past three of which have seen the Timberwolves emerge as an NBA championship contender. He has coached on NBA staffs for the past 17 seasons, including stints with the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons. Nori was once has considered for the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers head-coach openings.
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If the Trail Blazers want Van Gundy, they will reportedly have to compete with the Orlando Magic for his services. With new Portland team owner Tom Dundon drawing criticism for his cost-cutting, including laying off about 70 employees this week, it’s possible that if the pursuit of Van Gundy comes down to money — which is surely a consideration for someone of his experience — the Trail Blazers may lose out.
Some, including reporter Sean Highkin, speculate that Dundon could go after Van Gundy and pay him top dollar to combat the notion that he doesn’t want to spend money on the Trail Blazers.
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