After serving as a top lieutenant for Doc Rivers in Los Angeles since 2014, Mike Woodson won’t be returning to the Clippers for the 2018/19 season, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). With Woodson out of the picture, the Clips will be seeking a “top-level, defensive-minded” assistant to replace him, Wojnarowski adds.
A veteran coach who has previously held the top jobs in Atlanta and New York, Woodson interviewed for the Knicks’ vacancy last month, but was never viewed as a serious contender to land that position. A reunion with the Knicks remains a distinct possibility, however, as Woodson indicated recently he’d be open to the idea of serving on David Fizdale‘s staff in New York. At the time, Fizdale was viewed as a frontrunner for the Knicks’ job, but hadn’t yet been hired.
Since formally being named the Knicks’ new head coach, Fizdale has reportedly started filling out his staff. Keith Smart and Nick Van Exel, two of Fizdale’s assistants in Memphis, are expected to join the Knicks as assistants.
As for the Clippers, it’s not clear yet who they’ll target as Woodson’s replacement, but it appears Rivers will return for at least one more year in L.A.
I guess they ran out of nachos.