Steve Clifford to Coach the Charlotte Bobcats

Former Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach is the latest way-under-the-radar hire by the Charlotte Bobcats. Clifford replaces Mike Dunlap, who was fired after just one year on the job. Per Yahoo! Sports and USA Today: “There was still work to do on Monday with the language in the contract before it could be signed, sources said. […] Clifford replaces Mike Dunlap, who was fired after one season as coach. Charlotte went 21-61 in 2012-’13. Clifford was a finalist for the Milwaukee Bucks head coaching job too, and Charlotte made a pre-emptive move to offer Clifford the job before he traveled to Milwaukee on Tuesday for a second interview. He is expected to try to hire Patrick Ewing as one of his top assistant coaches, reuniting Ewing with his close friend, Bobcats owner Michael Jordan. […] It is a two-year deal with a team option for a third year. It is worth $6 million if he is there for all three years. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Former Phoenix Suns assistant Elston Turner, former Los Angeles Clippers and Suns coach Alvin Gentry and former Lakers assistant and Duke player Quin Snyder were also in the running for the job. Despite taking an assistant coach job with the Portland Trail Blazers recently, Nate Tibbetts — who could have gotten out of his new contract — was still being considered as well. Clifford spent last season on the Lakers after five under Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic. Previously he had worked for Jeff Van Gundy with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.”