The Los Angeles Clippers have received permission to speak with Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins about the team's coaching vacancy. Shaw is rumored to be the Clipper's top choice, ESPN reports.
Shaw is widely considered the best coaching prospect by several teams, including the Brooklyn Nets. Shaw, 47, has a bounty of championship experience that makes him attractive: he won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-02 as a player and two more as a Lakers assistant coach in 2009 and 2010.
His growing reputation for his ability to develop players, such as Pacers' Paul George and Lance Stephenson, also makes him an ideal candidate for the Clippers and Nets.
The Clippers, who fired coach Vinny Del Negro in May, are desperate to find a coach that will entice soon-to-be free agent Chris Paul into re-signing. Among the Clippers' handful of candidates are Shaw, Hollins, former Cleveland coach Byron Scott, former Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry, Denver coach George Karl and current ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy.
Some of the coaches, however, may not be an option. Hollins, whose contract expires at the end of the month, wants to remain in Memphis and would consider other teams only if he has "no choice." Talks have cooled recently between the Clippers and Van Gundy, and the team hasn't yet sought permission to talk with Karl.
It's not yet known which coach, if any, would entice Paul into signing long-term with the Clippers. He becomes an eligible free agent on July 1, but there's no guarantee he'll stay with the Clippers. An ESPN report last week claimed Paul was "angry" at the organization for blaming him for Del Negro's firing.
The Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks are expected to pursue both Paul and Dwight Howard, which could lure Paul out of Los Angeles. The two players have talked in the past about teaming up. Paul has given no indication as to what decision he will make this offseason.
