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**Flash is the Future** · 06-06-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy arrived Wednesday in Sacramento, according to an NBA source, and appears to be on the verge of becoming the next coach of the Kings.

Van Gundy, who had been linked for days to the Orlando Magic coaching vacancy that Billy Donovan initially accepted and then bypassed in favor of a return to the University of Florida, previously had met twice with Kings management and ownership.

The Kings fired Eric Musselman after one year with the team at the end of the season.

Van Gundy had been non-committal as recently as Tuesday regarding the vacancies in Orlando and Sacramento.

However, once the Heat requested compensation from the Magic, those talks hit a roadblock.

Tuesday, upon his return from an overseas trip, coach Pat Riley, in his dual role as Heat president, stepped in with a compensation claim, with Van Gundy still under contract to the Heat through June 2008.

Riley is not believed to be seeking a similar compensation from Sacramento, with the Kings scheduled to face the Heat only twice a season, as opposed to the four games a season Orlando plays the Heat as a Southeast Division rival.

Generally, assistant coaches are free to pursue higher-level positions without compensation. However, when Van Gundy stepped aside for Riley in December 2005, he already was working under a coaching contract.

Riley generally has been more willing to allow his staff to depart for positions in the Western Conference, as was the case with former Heat assistant Jeff Bzdelik surfacing in Denver and former Heat assistant Marc Iavaroni taking a similar position in Phoenix. Bzdelik later became coach of the Nuggets, while Iavaroni last week was named coach of the Grizzlies.

Van Gundy joined the Heat as an assistant coach on Sept. 20, 1995 and took over from Riley as coach on Oct. 24, 2003. He left as Heat coach December 12, 2005, citing family reasons, after recording a 112-73 record in his two-plus seasons as coach.

Had Riley been softer in his stance with the Magic, it is possible the Heat could have secured one or more second-round picks from the Orlando. The Heat does not currently hold a second-round pick in the June 28 NBA Draft.

It is unlikely the Magic would have considered a Heat request for a future first-round pick, with Orlando not holding a pick in that round this year.

Link

Maybe he'll trade us Ron Artest. Better West than East, even if we did get a second rounder.

Jace · 06-06-2007, 04:18 PM

I wonder what he means "Had Riley been softer in his stance..." I wonder how much he was demanding.

**Flash is the Future** · 06-06-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jace

I wonder what he means "Had Riley been softer in his stance..." I wonder how much he was demanding.

At least two second rounders. Possibly all 3. Or maybe he wanted a future first round pick. Either way, it was a good move by Riles not backing down.

Jace · 06-06-2007, 06:45 PM

So Riles wouldn't try to get a future pick from Sac?

**Flash is the Future** · 06-06-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jace

So Riles wouldn't try to get a future pick from Sac?

Probably not. He's just happy Van Gundy's out west. But, SVG doesn't do that well with headcases. It's only a matter of time before SVG convinces Kings ownership that trading Ron Artest for Antoine and the #20 pick is a good idea.

**Wade2Matrix** · 06-06-2007, 10:46 PM

Stan Van Gundy will take the Magic coaching job according to ESPN NEWS

**Wade2Matrix** · 06-06-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Stan Van Gundy met with Kings but chose Magic

Looks like Stan Van Gundy couldn't be swayed by the Kings.

Although the former Miami coach was in Sacramento to talk with the Kings about their vacancy, Van Gundy accepted the Orlando Magic coaching job, ESPN's Jim Gray learned late Wednesday night.

Van Gundy was reportedly offered the Magic coaching job on Tuesday, but that didn't stop him from flying out to Sacramento on Wednesday to continue that courtship.

The former Miami Heat coach spent Wednesday in Sacramento, touring the area and meeting with Kings officials for further discussions about becoming their head coach, the club confirmed.

NBA coaching sources told ESPN.com that Van Gundy, who has interviewed twice with the Kings, and his wife were picked up in a private jet and flown to the city.

Van Gundy, a Northern California native, was expected to meet with Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie, who just returned to Sacramento from a pre-draft camp in Orlando.

Eric Musselman was fired by Sacramento at the end of the season after only one campaign in which the Kings didn't make the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

The Orlando Sentinel reported on Tuesday night that the Magic have offered their head coaching job to Van Gundy. Orlando released Billy Donovan from his five-year, $27.5 million deal late Wednesday. The Magic might still have to deal with Van Gundy's own contract complications.

Van Gundy is under contract with the Miami Heat as a consultant for one more season. He was replaced as coach midway through the 2005-06 season by team president Pat Riley, who led the team to their only championship.

Riley may ask for compensation, most likely in the form of draft picks, to let Van Gundy coach in the same division, the Southeast, as Miami. According to sources, Riley would not have asked for compensation if Van Gundy coached in the Western Conference.

The Kings have interviewed several candidates to replace Musselman, but Van Gundy and Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis are the only candidates who received invitations for second interviews in Las Vegas last week, where both met with Petrie and owners Joe and Gavin Maloof at the Maloofs' casino.

Van Gundy grew up in Martinez, Calif., a Bay Area town about 60 miles from Sacramento.

Sources have told ESPN.com that the Magic wanted to act quickly to try to hire Van Gundy and mitigate the public relations damage done by Donovan asking out of his five-year contract. That likely indicates Orlando doesn't think that negotiations with Riley and the Heat would be as daunting as those with the former Florida coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2895929

Now lets hope we get a draft pick or two out of this.

The '93 Heat · 06-07-2007, 12:12 AM

Riley is in such an enormous position of power over Orlando right now given the Billy Donovan fiasco. I bet that he could ask for a first rounder next year and cause them to seriously consider it because there's no way that they want to lose a 2nd coach in a row and I doubt that they even have a plan C option.

If I was Riley I would call them and say, "I'm not releasing Stan from his contract unless I get your top 2 second round picks this year. No negotiations," and then hang up the phone. There's literally no way that they can say no. Hell, I would demand a first next year and if they didn't bite then I would say all 3 second rounders this year. Regardless, we should see some return which is good against our division foe.

Jace · 06-07-2007, 12:39 AM

Ira says we're getting at least a second rounder. Riles wanted a first and $1 million.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports...ndy_orlan.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/b...la-sports-heat

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