Even before the Cavaliers won the LeBron James lottery, Jeff Van Gundy was on the verge of entering final negotiations with the team to become its head coach. But after Rudy Tomjanovich resigned from the Rockets on Friday, a Memorial Day Weekend wait is in place for the former Knicks coach.
It’s known Van Gundy long had his eyes on the Rockets, with Rudy T’s status uncertain. Though the Rockets are interested in Van Gundy, Houston might wait until Tuesday to request formal permission from the Knicks to speak with Van Gundy. The Knicks own his contractual rights until Aug. 1 and will be looking for compensation, an NBA source said.
Rockets officials, out of respect for Rudy T, didn’t want to begin their search on the day he resigned. Larry Brown and Mike Dunleavy also have been mentioned as candidates.
Van Gundy’s coaching search began when he rejected the advances of the Raptors and Hornets. Neither franchise has displayed an ownership willing to do everything it takes to win; that’s Van Gundy’s chief criterion.
Van Gundy started to be intrigued with the Cavs’ situation after conversations with owner Gordon Gund, even before Thursday’s draft lottery gave Cleveland the top pick, likely James. Some were surprised Van Gundy would have been interested in a such a rebuilding project.
“In my opinion, he’s very willing to take a rebuilding situation where ownership wants to win,” said Bill Van Gundy, Jeff’s father, who will coach a U.S. college select team in Italy next week against the country’s club teams. “Where winning is the important thing, I can’t believe there’s any place Jeff wouldn’t be interested in.
“All Jeff wants to do is win games,” Bill Van Gundy said. “The question is, will the Cleveland Cavaliers have the resources to win games and will the effort be put in to do that?”
Van Gundy hasn’t seen James play but the coach seemed enamored with Rockets center Yao Ming. Though the Rockets didn’t make the playoffs this season, they are on the verge of a breakthrough with guard Steve Francis and Yao in place for the long haul.
