More from RealGM
 Denver Nuggets WiretapNuggets LinksNews Archive
NBA News
Dunleavy no longer coaching candidate for Nuggets jobMarc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: The Denver Nuggets' coaching search is taking a few different turns. Thursday, one candidate decided to take his name out the hat; another talked about his interview on Saturday; and a former Nuggets great said he hoped to be considered. Mike Dunleavy, who had coaching stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Portland, said Thursday that he would not be interested in the Nuggets' opening. Dunleavy said he had been intrigued by the job, but his view changed after Denver traded Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz to Dallas on Feb. 21. He said forward Antonio McDyess being able to opt out of his contract in 2003 was a deterrent as well. Meanwhile, Milwaukee assistant Terry Stotts was enthusiastic about interviewing with general manager Kiki Vandeweghe on Saturday in Los Angeles. Stotts has been an assistant for coach George Karl in Seattle from 1993-98 and with the Bucks since '98. Stotts has a connection with Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. He coached Kroenke's son Josh, who plays at Missouri, on a prep all-star team that played in Europe in the summer of 1998. Stotts has recently interviewed for coaching openings in Detroit, Portland and Atlanta. "I'm very excited about it," Stotts said. "It's a great opportunity. Denver, as a team and a franchise, is a unique situation with a team rebuilding with still some all-star players. Down the line, Kiki has positioned the franchise to improve not only this coming year, but after that." Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins is expected to interview soon. Another college coaching candidate is Kentucky's coach Tubby Smith. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the Nuggets have not contacted him about permission to interview Dallas assistants Del Harris or Donn Nelson. Harris, who has coached Milwaukee, Houston and the Lakers, will be in Europe until June 17 to take part in coaching clinics and to scout players. Harris has declined comment but could interview after his trip. While attending next week's NBA predraft camp in Chicago, Vandeweghe has said he hopes to sneak in some interviewing. Candidates expected to be in attendance include Nelson and Utah assistant Phil Johnson. If their respective teams do not advance to the NBA Finals, Eddie Jordan, an New Jersey Nets assistant, and Lakers assistant Frank Hamblen could be there as well. Another potential candidate who will be in Chicago is former Nuggets player Alex English, now the head coach for North Charleston of the NBA's National Basketball Development League. The Nuggets' all-time leading scorer led the Lowgators to a league-best 36-20 record before losing in the league championship series. He last spoke to former Nuggets teammate Vandeweghe a month ago and expects to hear from him soon. "I would love to coach the team," English said. "I've gone through this process of trying to be a part of the organization for a while now. During the last three or four years, I haven't got the opportunity for whatever reason. I was always told you've got to have experience for this and that. Nuggets interim coach Mike Evans has had an informal interview. Nuggets assistant Clyde Drexler, who will be coaching a team at the predraft camp, has said he would have a better idea about his interest next month. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Georgia's Harrick a candidate for Nuggets coaching positionKyle Ringo of the Rocky Mountain News reports: University of Georgia basketball coach Jim Harrick confirmed Wednesday he is a candidate for the Denver Nuggets head coaching position. Harrick, 63, said he has not talked with Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe about the position, but he believes a conversation is likely at some point. The two men have been friends since Harrick was an assistant coach at UCLA in 1978 and 1979 when Vandeweghe was a player there. "All I can give you is a blanket statement at this point," Harrick said. "We've developed a tremendous friendship over the years. We have a great relationship. "From there, it's a long process. They might decide to pursue me, and I might decide to pursue them. We will have to see." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Stotts next to interview for Nuggets' top jobMarc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: The agent for Milwaukee assistant Terry Stotts confirmed Wednesday his client will interview this weekend for the Denver Nuggets' head coaching opening. Stotts has no head coaching experience but has been a longtime assistant to George Karl at Seattle from 1993-98 and then with the Bucks. Agent Brett Adams said Stotts is expected to interview Saturday with Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe in Los Angeles. Adams likened Stotts to Detroit Pistons coach Rick Carlisle, the 2002 NBA coach of the year in his rookie season after 12 seasons as an assistant. "You have to look at the success of guys like Rick Carlisle with all the experience Terry's had with a successful program coaching with George Karl," Adams said. "There is no question that Terry is ready. There are guys in Terry's situation that could stay where he is at and take the reins from a guy like George Karl when he leaves. But Terry really wants an opportunity sooner than that. With what Kiki has done in terms of salary-cap moves, Denver can be a great opportunity in the next couple of years." While Vandeweghe wouldn't comment on coaching candidates, he did say he plans to interview candidates this weekend. Vandeweghe also hopes to do some interviewing at the NBA predraft camp from June 4-7 in Chicago, but the schedules of candidates could make it tough. There is, however, a three-day window before and after the draft camp in which draft prospects are off-limits to teams, so Vandeweghe may be able to do some interviewing then. "Our first priority now, of course, is the draft," Vandeweghe said. "But you have a little time with the moratorium before and after Chicago to maybe at least talk to some candidates, which I will do. Again, it is nothing to rush through. There are some guys that I really want to talk to that are involved in the playoffs. I don't want to start a process with guys and then put them on hold." Adams also is the agent for Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, also a Nuggets coaching candidate. Huggins is expected to interview but no date has been set. In other Nuggets news: Vandeweghe and Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway's agent said they hoped to meet next week in Chicago. Hardaway averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 assists last season, but missed the final 15 games with a broken left foot. Agent Henry Thomas said Hardaway, who can be bought out of his contract before the draft, is ahead of his rehabilitation schedule and could take off his protective boot and begin playing in July. Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Nuggets May 2002 Archive
|
