CAVS offer job to JVG

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/87960p-80148c.html

By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


Jeff Van Gundy.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to make Jeff Van Gundy an offer to become their next head coach sometime over the next few days, according to league source.
The Cavs appear to be waiting for the Western Conference finals to end before making Van Gundy a formal offer. Van Gundy is broadcasting the Spurs-Mavs series for TNT.

Whether Van Gundy will accept the job is unclear. He reiterated yesterday that he enjoys his job as a broadcaster and that he and his family prefer to live in Chappaqua, N.Y. Van Gundy is not ruling out returning to TNT, with whom he is under contract for one more year. "I've really enjoyed my time at Turner," Van Gundy said yesterday over the telephone. "I still don't know what is going to happen. Right now I'd say it's a 50-50 proposition whether I'll be coaching next season."

Van Gundy, who coached the Knicks from 1996-2001, has met face-to-face with Cleveland officials on two separate occasions and has emerged as their top choice. Paul Silas, who interviewed again yesterday with Cleveland, likely will be offered the position if Van Gundy turns it down.

Van Gundy is also a leading candidate in Houston along with Larry Brown and Mike Dunleavy. On Wednesday, Van Gundy spoke to Sixers president Billy King by telephone and decided to take himself out of the running to become Brown's successor in Philadelphia. "We mutually agreed that it wouldn't be a good fit," Van Gundy said.

In an interview with WFAN radio yesterday, Van Gundy sounded as if he's leaning toward Cleveland, if he in fact decides to coach again. He talked about the challenge of coaching a team that is coming off a 17-win season. He also spoke highly of Cleveland owner Gordon Gund, GM Jim Paxson, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and shooting guard Ricky Davis.

But the most intriguing aspect of coaching the Cavs will be working with LeBron James, the 18-year-old high school prodigy who will be selected No. 1 overall by Cleveland in next month's NBA draft.

"LeBron James, from everything that everyone tells me, is not only a terrific talent but a grounded person who is a hard worker," Van Gundy said on "Mike and Mad Dog." "But that's a situation that is a true rebuilding."

Van Gundy is third on the Knicks' all-time list with 248 wins, behind Red Holzman (696) and Joe Lapchick (326). His .590 winning percentage with the Knicks is second only to Pat Riley (.680).

Originally published on May 30, 2003

 

This article is from the NY Daily News, not the Post.