Talks between the Golden State Warriors and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy reportedly are "intensifying." The Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, are said to have former coaches Mike D'Antoni and Vinny Del Negro on their list of coaching candidates to replace Mike Brown.
With TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr seemingly a lock to accept the New York Knicks' coaching job, talks between Golden State and Van Gundy, the Warriors' purported No. 2 choice, appear to be progressing.
"Talks intensifying between Warriors and Stan Van Gundy, per sources," Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated tweeted on Tuesday. "Van Gundy now Golden State's clear top choice. Moving towards a deal."
Van Gundy, a native of the Bay Area, hasn't coached since the Orlando Magic fired him after the 2011-12 season. He acknowledged the Warriors have contacted his representatives, and he didn't rule out returning to the NBA if the right opportunity presented itself.
"I have not met with them or anything else. There have been calls to gauge interest, and until you get a chance to actually talk to somebody, it's even hard to say if they're interested or if I would be [interested]," Van Gundy said Thursday on 740 AM's "Open Mike" show, via the Orlando Sentinel. "So we're not at that point of even sitting down and talking yet. ...
"Part of me does (want to coach again), part of me doesn't," he said. "Look, we're so happy in Central Florida. It would really have to be a great situation for me to get back in. I miss a lot of it. I really do. I miss the competition. I miss the challenge. I miss the camaraderie of it. But I also like the time that I've had, so we'll just have to see what happens. You weigh every situation."
As for Cleveland, who fired Brown (again) on Monday, they are just beginning their coaching search. ESPN's Marc Stein reported on Monday the Cavaliers may look at D'Antoni, Del Negro and Alvin Gentry. Other potential candidates include Mark Jackson, Fred Hoiberg and George Karl.
