That's what it seems like according to ESPN Insider from 6/3: Coaching carousel slowing down The 22 coaches still employed in the NBA all slept a little easier Sunday night. With word coming that Larry Brown and Paul Silas are set to accept the head coaching gigs in Detroit and Cleveland, respectively, it looks like the coaching carnage is about to end. Both the Pistons and Cavs got it right. Will the rest of the GMs in the league follow suit? Rick Carlisle got the Pistons as far as he was going to get them. His motivation techniques squeezed every ounce out of his players. But the constant squeezing ultimately alienated them as well. By the Eastern Conference Finals it was clear that he had lost several of his players. According to one league source, the player exit interviews with Dumars were scathing toward Carlisle. His poor relationship with the front office, especially owner Bill Davidson, was the final straw. In what is otherwise a very harmonious front office, Carlisle's surly nature stuck out like a sore thumb. And with the team bringing in a potential young superstar in Darko Milicic, Joe Dumars and company couldn't afford to screw this up. Davidson and Dumars felt like the team might regress next season. Now, with Brown in place doing what he does best, coaching, the Pistons should be able to take another step forward next season. The Cavs also hit the jackpot with Silas. Jeff Van Gundy had the bigger name, but he also has the bigger ego. There isn't room in Cleveland for any more egos now that LeBron is rolling into town. The New York Post reported a story about a nasty exchange he had with GM Jim Paxson when Paxson asked Van Gundy if he'd commit to giving LeBron a certain amount of minutes next season. Van Gundy balked and so did the Cavs. Van Gundy denied that the exchange took place. "I have no idea where that came from," Van Gundy told the Newark Star Ledger. "There was no difference of opinion on anything at all. All those things that were written are just not accurate. (James' minutes) never came up. I really don't know what happened, (owner) Gordon Gund and Jim Paxson are really great people, and I enjoyed speaking with them." Even if the story wasn't true, it was believable enough. In New York it was always Van Gundy's way or the highway. The last thing Paxson needed was an ego war going on all season. As big is Van Gundy is in the coaching world, LeBron's selling the tickets, not VG. Silas will be more nuturing and more diplomatic. He'll figure out a way to motivate this team without alienating LeBron. That's all Paxson can ask for at this point. Van Gundy has suddenly lost much of his negotiating power now. He's either got to go ahead and accept the Rockets' offer, or try to hold out in case the Blazers job comes open. Van Gundy has been eyeing Portland since he left New York. With the word now out that the Blazers will give permission to the 76ers to interview Maurice Cheeks (both sides deny it), coaching in Portland seems to be Van Gundy's only other real possibility. If Van Gundy waits too long, the Rockets will go ahead and give the job to Mike Dunleavy. If Van Gundy does get the job in Houston, expect Dunleavy to take a job in Atlanta. He's close friends with soon-to-be new owner David McDavid. As good as the Houston job is, they still have to play in the Western Conference. In Atlanta, Dunleavy should have no problem sneaking the Hawks into the playoffs. As we reported last week, the Raptors are set to hire Pistons assistant Kevin O'Neill. Former Cavs and Hawks czar Mike Fratello denies that he's close to an agreement with the Hornets. However, the same league source continues to insist that Fratello is the guy. The Sixers received permission to talk with Nets assistant Eddie Jordan this weekend. If Philly can't get their hands on Maurice Cheeks, Jordan would be a great alternative. His ability to relate to players (read Allen Iverson) will give him a leg up over other candidates like Carlisle. If Cheeks does get the job in Philly, look for Jordan to still get some love in the Wizards and Clippers coaching search.
I've read at least once maybe twice that he may elect to go back to broadcasting since he has another year left if he doesn't find the right fit. I think it was after Cleveland hired Silas.
