Mike Dunleavy interviewed with Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling over the weekend, league sources told ESPN.com, to underline Dunleavy's status as the Clippers' top coaching candidate.

Friday's meeting was Dunleavy's second interview with the Clippers, and made Dunleavy the first coach to meet face-to-face with Sterling. Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor, who conducted Dunleavy's first interview, previously interviewed ex-Detroit coach Rick Carlisle at the recent pre-draft camp in Chicago. Clippers interim coach Dennis Johnson has also re-interviewed with the club in hopes of retaining the job.

The Clippers declined comment Monday. Dunleavy could not be reached.

It remains to be seen how much Sterling would be willing to pay Dunleavy. Alvin Gentry was making one of the league's lowest coaching salaries, at $1.5 million, when he was fired March 3 and replaced by Johnson. Finances are one factor that made a Clippers/Carlisle pairing a long shot from the start and the factor that gives Johnson a decent shot to be hired full-time.