Is contract/$$$ is not the problem, what is? Larrry Brown never checked Detroit's housing/schools/nudy-bars before he made up his mind... June 6, 2003, 10:43PM Rockets awaiting answer Team optimistic as Van Gundy departs By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Thursday, they dated. By Friday, they were picking out the rings. All that was left was to exchange "I dos." Jeff Van Gundy, the Rockets' choice to become their next head coach, did not take that last step when Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson dropped him and his wife, Kim, off at the airport. But when they parted, the tone was considerably more "see you later" than "goodbye." The Van Gundys had spent the day with a real estate agent looking at homes in River Oaks, West University and Tanglewood. They had interviews at two private schools. Kim Van Gundy had been in Houston a week earlier for a lunch with Dawson's wife, Sharon, and Carol Goldberg, the wife of Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg of Baker Botts. Carroll Dawson spent a few hours talking basketball. Sharon Dawson played tour guide Thursday and Friday. Michael Goldberg made a passionate argument for his hometown. By the time Van Gundy left, he offered all the signals that he was close to instructing his agent, Jim Ornstein, to begin more substantive contract talks with Goldberg. But he said he would return to his home in Chappaqua, N.Y. to make his decision and let the Rockets know. "Everything went perfectly," Dawson said. "There is nothing more we can do. If don't get him, it wasn't meant to be. But everything went so well. He was impressed everything here. I feel good about it." Van Gundy has options. He met with Wizards officials Wednesday, and league sources said Larry Brown had been offered a package in Washington worth $35 million over five years. The Rockets are more likely to offer a salary worth somewhere between the $4 million per season Paul Silas received in Cleveland and the $5 million Brown accepted from the Pistons. The Rockets do not see the contract negotiations as a potential problem. "Let me tell you, when it comes to the contract, the one thing his agent said to me was, `All Jeff wants is to be treated fairly' ," Goldberg said. "The only thing (Rockets owner Leslie Alexander) wants to do is a fair contract. We were confident that once Jeff makes up his mind, we can sit down and do a contract quickly. "Given the personality Jeff has, and the desire Leslie has, this is the right place for his family. I think we'll be able to quickly get things worked out." Though Goldberg would eventually handle any contract negotiations, he said his talks with Van Gundy were more about living in Houston. Goldberg had lunch with Dawson and Van Gundy on Thursday and talked to Van Gundy on Friday, and the meetings that left him sounding as optimistic as Dawson. "The main thing is that Sharon has taken her (Kim Van Gundy) all over town today and yesterday," Goldberg said. "I think that and the relationship with C.D. have been huge. "I love this city. That's what I expressed to him. I'm a native Houstonian. I talked to him about what a great city Houston is, especially in terms of raising children. There are so many different camps, so many different schools, so many different opportunities. "I saw a guy that loved our franchise, loves our team, but also loves his family. The key decision now is more a family decision than anything. He was very impressed with Leslie, very impressed with C.D. He is obviously impressed with our team. His decision is truly about taking care of his life, taking care of his daughter (Mattie) and making sure his family is comfortable. "It may strange not talking numbers or anything. He knows we want him and if the other aspects work out, he wants us." But if the Van Gundy's itinerary in Houston was not an indication enough of what those other aspects of a potential hiring are, the 41-year-old former Knicks coach repeatedly talked about making a move to Houston work for his family. "It's not any one thing, but it's also not as complicated as it may seem," he said. "I'm sure we'll sit down and try to make it the best fit. They want the best fit for them. I want the best fit for my myself and my family." But almost as soon as he arrived in Houston, he looked as if he was trying to fit. He might have even seemed at home. "He wants to coach," said Van Gundy's brother Stan, a Miami Heat assistant. "He's not desperate to coach. That's why he did not pursue some jobs. There's no question from the end of the season he wanted to coach. But it was going to be from the right situation. The right situation is the management of the team and the players they have, and the right living situation for him and his family. But I think he is excited about coaching again." The Rockets have offered that chance and then made sure that if the Van Gundys were going to think it over, they would have plenty to think about. "I don't know what else we can do," Dawson said. "He said he'll get back to me. I'm waiting to hear from him."
I think Van Gundy is having a hard time leaving the Northeast area. He's lived there for 15 years. He has his kids there. I think he's just not sure if he wants to leave that.
i really hate this last line "I don't know what else we can do," Dawson said. "He said he'll get back to me. I'm waiting to hear from him."
Is it the Rockets' choice to not talk about numbers? Or is this normal when pursuing a coach? Why does it seem like there's a "catch" if you're gonna coach for the Rockets. First Larry Brown talks to us, doesn't decide for a couple days, then selects Detroit very quickly. Silas signs on with Philly very quickly. Why can't we do that? Is the only holdup that JVG isn't sure, or is it something else? That's 2 coaches who aren't sure about coaching here!
This article points out a clear fact that nobody really knows whats really going on with the exception of those involved in the process. The article said that VG's wife was in Houston a week ago which must have been some sort of indication that the Rockets were pursuing VG at the time. Meanwhile, everyone here was still talking about getting Brown or how Mike D was the most likely replacement after Brown. Who really knows what is going on right now. I say there is no need to waste time to speculate one way or another because whatever we are thinking about is probably wrong anyway. Think back to all of those useless threads where folks debated about things that were never going to occur anyways. Whenever a decision is made, it will be made. No need to get all obsessed about this. In the meantime, enjoy your weekend!
I'm going to refrain from getting on the bbs all weekend, because this is just making me sick. My hope is that I wake up monday morning, log on to CC.net and see that JVG is the new coach.
Very good observation with the Kim Van Gundy thing there. If she has been in Houston for about a week invited and spending time Mrs Dawson then it means Rox have been serious with JVG even before LB made his choice to head to Motown. We may never know the real truth or picture but I expect to hear from JVG regardless of his decision before Monday morning. Interestingly Mrs Van Gundy's presence in Houston since last week was NEVER reported or "rumoured". What happened? An intelligence and information gathering failure on our part or Doc Rocket and Co are hiding something. We shall see in a few days - no shaking.
Did anyone see Carroll Dawson??????? He was like,"We're not worried.....but maybe we should be". HE WAS RAMBLING ON AND SO UNDECISIVE LIKE ME!
Doc has disappeared since a few days before Rudy was let go. I still wonder if Doc was some how connected to Rudys bench. It seems strange that he has completely vanished since Rudy's dismissal. You would think that he would of had something to say during that entire LB situation.
After Van Gundy, Rick Carlisle looks like a great candidate. I just hope this doesn't become a circus.
If the dude and his wife are looking at places to live, you know he is dead serious about living here. I think its a done deal.... Just waiting for the logistical part of it to work out --- I.E. Convincing his family that its going to be cool to watch daddy win some rings with a 7 foot chinese dude and a top 5 guard in the NBA. I dont think thats a hard sell Hey Jeff- Get yourself out of the cold miserable doldrums of the Northeast and bask in the sun here in Houston. Picture yourself now playing golf in January when its 60 degrees outside. Try doing that in NY or DC!! You dont have to be here for the miserable summers so dont worry. You will also quickly notice that the people in Texas are a HELLUVA lot nicer than your buds up East. Come on down, we'll give you a warm Texas welcome, win some rings with Yao, and have a good life. Cheers, Drewdog
I have the same bad feeling. I'm just not sold on this guy. I feel that he's waffling on facing the challenge of taking over a team in the Western Conference. I don't see his resume as all that great anyway. I saw a lot of Van Gundy's Knicks and they were not entertaining to watch at all.
Look, if Washington offers him 35mil for 5 years and we offer him 25 for 5 years, that's a significant difference. Of course, you also take state income tax into consideration, but then you take the life style into consideration. In the end, everybody goes for the money.
yeah sure man. I bet you a 100 bucks you can't resist the urge to check the site between now and Monday. Don't fight the feeling!
