As talk of NBA trades and free agency heats up across the NBA, rumors and reports surrounding the coaching staff remain just as hot.
Here are some of the latest news and notes. Courtesy of Mark Stein and his Must-Read Newsletter.
• Tom Thibodeau considers a contract extension a “near certainty.” This isn't a total surprise, but Stein confirms what everyone knows and expects: The New York Knicks will work on a contract extension with Tom Thibodeau. Stein says That's “market price,” which would be over $10 million a season for Thibodeau. Leon Rose and the Knicks front office put together a roster of players that fit Thibodeau's game plan and style, and they led that roster to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division and to the second round of the playoffs (where they lost due to injury). If they keep the coach on their toes instead of letting him go, everyone knows it's coming.
• Will the Celtics ask Jeff Van Gundy to join their staff? Following the NBA Finals, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla will need to replace the lead assistant on his staff. Charles Lee will move to Charlotte on the Atlantic coast to take charge of the Hornets.Will his replacement be Jeff Van Gundy, the former NBA head coach who is now a consultant for the Celtics? From Stein:
“…There is already curiosity circulating among the coaching staff that Boston is considering the possibility of moving Van Gundy to the bench as Joe Mazzulla's day-to-day assistant.”
“Pursuing a potential player” and benching Van Gundy next season are two entirely different things, and ultimately this seems unlikely to happen, but you can never say never in the NBA.
• Budenholzer tried to bring Darvin Ham onto Phoenix's staff. Darvin Ham spent nine seasons as an assistant to Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee. With Coach Budd putting together a new staff in Phoenix and Ham out of a job after being fired by the Lakers, Budenholzer asked Ham if he wanted to come to the Suns. After two seasons in Los Angeles, Ham turned down the offer. Stein's report.
• Rumors are growing louder about JJ Redick coaching the Lakers. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are taking their time in their search for a new coach, interviewing multiple people. However, various league sources who spoke to NBC Sports said there are growing rumors that JJ Redick will end up being the coach. LeBron James and his agent Rich Paul have said they are not involved in the coaching search, but there is a perception that (at least) Redick is the one he wants, and that LeBron could be a free agent this summer, so there is room for negotiation. Also, Anthony Davis (another Rich Paul/Clutch client) will have a say in the hire, but he seems to have a good chemistry with Redick (Davis has never been a big Ham fan). It's up for debate whether there is still a consensus among Lakers decision-makers regarding Redick, but from all indications, the Lakers are leaning toward Redick, a former player and now podcaster/broadcaster (Redick will be part of ABC's team that will be broadcasting the NBA Finals, so an announcement may be on hold until the Finals are over).
