Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue and broadcaster and former Knicks and Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy are expected to be candidates to replace Doc Rivers, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski notes that Lue and Van Gundy are among the top candidates in the marketplace (Twitter link) and the Clippers are the “ultimate win-now team.”
The Clippers and Rivers parted ways on Monday in what was termed a mutual decision between the 58-year-old Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, according to a team press release (hat tip to Jovan Buha of The Athletic).
“Doc has been a terrific coach for the Clippers, an incredible ambassador, and a pillar of strength during tumultuous times,” Ballmer said in a statement. “He won a heck of a lot of games and laid a foundation for this franchise.”
As Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN notes, both Lue and Van Gundy have strong ties to the organization (Twitter link). Lue, naturally, has the advantage of being Rivers’ top assistant and has already formed relationships with stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Van Gundy has a strong relationship with Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.
Lue will apparently have multiple options. He’s expected to interview with the Sixers on Tuesday and has also been linked to the Pelicans’ head coaching job. Van Gundy is reportedly a candidate for a second stint with Houston.
Lue has to be the most overhyped coaching candidate this year.
Lue was really not the coach of the cavs Lebron called the shots.
I’d say ever.
Van Gundy is final 2 candidate for Nets coach
If I were 76ers, I would hire Jeff Van Gundy
Why? What did he do as a coach a decade ago?
And deprive TV viewers of his essential complaints and other disgruntled insights during games?
JeffVan Gundy is the most overrated NBA head coach in the history of the NBA.
Mark Jackson to so Mike Breen gets new play by play Commintators.
Doc was overrated. Nice guy. How do you blow 3, 3-1 series with all the stars he has had. Wish him the best but the ESPN’s of the world made him out to be someone he never was.
I’ll take Jeff Van Gundy.
If JVG wanted to Coach again he would’ve already. He loves his TV job
I think JVG is a good coach but they way fans and media types fawn over him as if he is some great coach with multiple titles is funny. His last coaching job was 13 years ago in Houston and in those four years, he missed the playoffs once and had three first-round exits. JVG needs to remain a broadcaster.
The Clippers will not hire either of these two guys. Tyronn Lue Jeff Van Gundy.
Who they do hire is a major mystery. Maybe someone uprising like a Steve Nash hire? That came from out of nowhere and maybe the Clippers do the same thing?
Is there a recently retired NBA player who is perfect for coaching? I can’t think of that guy right now. Steve Kerr type. Jerry West put his okay on the Steve Kerr hire for the Warriors.
Dirk Nowitzki
Too laid-back
Either Van Gundy would be a bad hire.
Lue would be silly to take this job when he could get paid just as much elsewhere with much lower expectations.
If the bet is Van Gundy, Lue, or the field, I’ll take the field.
Give it to STAN