The Denver Nuggets narrowed their search on Thursday to ex-Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw. The team will only consider other candidates if they're unable to hire one of those two coaches, Yahoo! Sports reports.
Denver made the surprising move to fire reigning NBA Coach of the Year George Karl on June 6. Now the Nuggets believe the best hope for their young, talented roster lay in either Hollins or Shaw.
Demver is expected to interview Hollins on Saturday, and Shaw is expected to interview sometime next week.
The Nuggets reportedly have other coaches, namely former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry, on their list of possible candidates but will only pursue other coaches if they fail to secure the services of Hollins or Shaw.
There's competition for both of the coaches, which may force Denver to resort to the other names on their list. Hollins and Shaw both have the eye of the Los Angeles Clippers, who are searching for a championship-caliber coach to help retain soon-to-be free agent Chris Paul. After the firing of coach Vinny Del Negro earlier this month, hiring the right coach might be enough to sway Paul into signing a new contract.
Hollins earned the reputation as a coach able to bring his players together in a "grind-it-out" culture. He led Memphis to a franchise-best 56 wins and their first-ever Western Conference finals appearance this season. Despite Hollins' 196-155 career record with Grizzlies, the club decided on Monday not to renew his contract.
He interviewed with the Clippers on Wednesday.
Shaw is widely considered to be the NBA coach on the market. He finished two seasons as an assistant coach with the Pacers, helping the young team make it to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2012 and the Eastern Conference finals this year.
Although Shaw has never been a head coach, he has an attractive resume that suggests he'd be successful. Shaw, 47, won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers as a player and two more as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson. His three titles as a player (2000-02) and two as a coach (2009-10), all with Jackson, gives him championship experience that isn't easy to find.
Shaw interviewed with the Brooklyn Nuggets, who ultimately hired Jason Kidd, and the Clippers. He could meet with the Philadelphia 76ers in the near future.
Teams will try to solidify their coaching situations by July 1, when free agency starts.
