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ESPN Reports Van Gundy WILL NOT be next coach of the Cavs.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by TheHorns, Jun 1, 2003.

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  1. TheHorns

    TheHorns Member

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    Marc Stien reports that Silas will accept the Cavs job on Monday:

    Silas to accept Cavs' coaching offer

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    By Marc Stein
    ESPN.com


    The Cleveland Cavaliers offered their coaching position to Paul Silas, and he will accept the job possibly as soon as Monday, league sources told ESPN.com.

    That lines up Silas, who was fired by the New Orleans Hornets on May 4, to be LeBron James' first pro coach.

    Sources said that Silas is the Cavaliers' choice after the club conducted two interviews each with Silas and ex-New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy.

    ESPN.com reported Friday that Silas was the Cavs' leading candidate entering the weekend, despite persistent speculation that Van Gundy was mulling over a lucrative offer. Van Gundy, who along with Silas has also interviewed with the Houston Rockets, said Thursday that a return to coaching next season was only 50-50.

    "I don't have an offer from either team, " he told USA Today.

    Van Gundy was expected to demand more money and personnel control than Silas, who turns 60 in July and fits the veteran profile established months ago by Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund.

    Earlier in the season, Gund's interest was piqued by the Memphis Grizzlies' turnaround under Hubie Brown. That prompted Gund to make a rare road trip to Memphis to do some firsthand research on Brown's methods.

    Silas could not be reached for comment Saturday, but told ESPN.com last month that he would relish the opportunity to coach James, in spite of the intense scrutiny surrounding the teen phenom.

    "A kid like that only comes around only every so often," Silas said at the time. "He's got the potential to be truly great, but he's going to need some guidance and some fatherly love. And that's what I would give him."

    Cleveland would be Silas' third stop as a head coach. After a stint with the San Diego Clippers in the early 1980s, Silas had to wait 15 seasons before getting another shot to run a team. He spent four-plus seasons with the Hornets, quickly establishing himself as a players' favorite. Silas also reached the playoffs in each of his four full seasons with the Hornets despite a steady stream of difficult circumstances.

    Silas helped hold the team together after the tragic death of Bobby Phills in January 2000 and through last season's lame-duck campaign in Charlotte before the move to New Orleans. With the move to Louisiana looming, and despite losing Jamal Mashburn for half the 2001-02 season to a mysterious bout with vertigo, the Hornets played their home games in a near-empty building and still made the second round of the playoffs.

    The Hornets were knocked out in six games by Philadelphia in this season's first round, but were forced to play at times without injured stars Baron Davis and Mashburn. With a Hornets' record of 208-155, Silas was fired two days after they were eliminated
     
    #1 TheHorns, Jun 1, 2003
  2. New Jack

    New Jack Member

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    Van Gundy is one greedy SOB. He’s been the leading candidate for that job the whole time. He’s good friends with the owner and GM. He’s offered 25 mil. and that still isn’t enough. Basically, it was his job to lose and he lost it because of his greed. Not surprising that his interviews with the Sixers and Rockets didn't go well. He was probably asking for way too much money.
     
    #2 New Jack, Jun 1, 2003
  3. codell

    codell Member

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    Definition of irony:

    Van Gundy turns down the Philly and N.O. jobs because he thinks he can do better by coaching Houston or Cleveland. Houston (maybe) and Cleveland turn down Van Gundy cause they can do better by hiring someone else.

    Payback is witch. ;)
     
    #3 codell, Jun 1, 2003
  4. Faos

    Faos Member

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    Would he get that control here?
     
    #4 Faos, Jun 1, 2003
  5. daytripper

    daytripper Member

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    Van Gundy comes off as such an opportunist. When did he become too big to turn down a 5 year/25 million dollar contract?

    I hope the Rox are smart enough to stay away from VG....far, far away.
     
    #5 daytripper, Jun 1, 2003
  6. JPM0016

    JPM0016 Member

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    sounds like the cavs GM wanted Van Gundy to agree to play Lebron a certain amount of minutes for marketing purposes and Jeff told him players earn playing time and that is when he blew that job off. Not because of money
     
    #6 JPM0016, Jun 1, 2003
  7. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    #7 Dr of Dunk, Jun 1, 2003
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