HoopsHype.com Rumors

Where do things stand with your coaching future? Sloan: I'm supposed to talk to Charlotte tomorrow, and beyond that I haven't talked to anybody else. SI.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

SI.com: Are you 100 percent interested in that job, or is this a two-way feeling-out process at all? Sloan: I wouldn't talk to them if I wasn't interested. I wouldn't waste their time. That's not something I'm interested in doing. But I have no idea, and they probably have no idea about me, so I don't know. I guess that's why we're meeting. SI.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

SI.com: What about the Orlando situation? It was reported that you had interest there. Have you spoken to the Magic yet? Sloan: No, that's one thing about this. A lot of this is all speculation, and I don't like to deal with it that way. People call and say, "Well, your name might be mentioned." Well, it might be, but I have nothing to do with that. I don't have someone putting my name out there, and I'm not putting it out there. I guess they throw enough mud on the wall, but some of it fell off. SI.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

Tommy Beer: JVG says Martins is "unprofessional" and that Magic are foolish to deny the role Dwight Howard played in Stan's firing Twitter

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Alex Martins, Jeff Van Gundy 

Tommy Beer: JVG says Alex Martins' compliments of SVG's coaching ability is "offensive," because Martins "knows nothing about basketball." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Alex Martins, Jeff Van Gundy 

Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard says he had NOTHING to do with the team's decision to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy ... telling TMZ, "I hate to see anyone lose their job." Howard -- who's still rehabbing from back surgery in L.A. -- was out in Beverly Hills this morning when we asked how he felt about his coach's recent termination. TMZ.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy 

"Me and Stan ... we had our ups and downs ... but for the most part we had one goal ... to win a championship in Orlando, but we fell short." When asked about speculation that he had a role in the decision to can Stan, Howard told us, "I'm glad [Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins] confirmed I had nothing to do with it." TMZ.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy 

Steve Luhm: Raja Bell on ESPN, talking about his strained relationship with coach Tyrone Corbin: "I thought it was personal and still do." Twitter

Utah Jazz, Raja Bell, Coaching, Tyrone Corbin 

Orlando will hire the GM first and the look for a coach who is one the same page with the GM. Among the early candidates that are expected to be in the mix for the coaching opening are Golden State assistant Michael Malone; Pacers assistant Brian Shaw; and the Bucks' Scott Skiles, who is beloved in Orlando and is said to be open to leaving Milwaukee after missing the playoffs for a second straight season. CBSSports.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Scott Skiles, Mike Malone 

Nearly a month after the Wizards concluded the regular season, the team has still been extremely quiet about its plans for Coach Randy Wittman. A source with knowledge of the Wizards’ thinking recently described the situation as “an ongoing process,” adding that the team has no timetable to make a decision. Wittman and his assistants are still under contract for next season, lessening the urgency. But the silence – and lack of aggressiveness in pursuing other potential candidates – has raised speculation amongst agents and rival league executives that they all will be brought back. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Randy Wittman 

According to multiple league sources, Wittman was in Washington last week and recently had a face-to-face meeting with owner Ted Leonsis. A source that confirmed the meeting was unsure if it was a perfunctory get-to-know-you session or a formal interview. Leonsis often sat near the Wizards’ bench during games, but never had the chance to sit down with Wittman after he replaced Flip Saunders on Jan. 24. Wittman went 18-31 after taking over the team and several players – including John Wall – expressed their support for having him return for a full season. The Wizards made considerable progress, especially on the defensive end, after acquiring Nene in a trade deadline deal and finished the season on a six-game winning streak. They were 11-14 after the trade and 7-4 with Nene in uniform. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Randy Wittman 

Grunfeld has already met with Leonsis to discuss his strategy with regards to a coach, according to a league source, but his recommendation so far has been kept under wraps. Wittman and his assistants continue to operate business as usual. Assistant coach Sam Cassell recently watched playoff games and scouted point guards Chris Paul and Mike Conley with Wall in Los Angeles. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Randy Wittman 

A source with knowledge of the Wizards’ thinking recently described the situation as “an ongoing process,” adding that the team has no timetable to make a decision. Wittman and his assistants are still under contract for next season, lessening the urgency. But the silence – and lack of aggressiveness in pursuing other potential candidates – has raised speculation amongst agents and rival league executives that they all will be brought back. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Randy Wittman 

A person who has spoken in recent weeks to President Ernie Grunfeld said “reading between the lines” from their conversations left the impression that Wittman would be retained. The person added, however, “Hey, I could be wrong.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Ernie Grunfeld, Randy Wittman 

According to multiple league sources, Wittman was in Washington last week and recently had a face-to-face meeting with owner Ted Leonsis. A source that confirmed the meeting was unsure if it was a perfunctory get-to-know-you session or a formal interview. Leonsis often sat near the Wizards’ bench during games, but never had the chance to sit down with Wittman after he replaced Flip Saunders on Jan. 24. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Ted Leonsis, Owners, Flip Saunders 

The mere mention of Shaq, even if he turns out to be something more than a courtesy candidate, surely (and sadly) overshadows the most interesting part of Broussard's notebook-on-TV report, which revealed that the Magic's secret dream is trying to find a way to convince Doc Rivers to leave the Boston Celtics to come back to Central Florida. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Doc Rivers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching 

Now THAT makes sense. It's the longest of long shots with Doc only just finishing Year 1 of a new five-year, $35 million contract to coach the Celts, but Orlando's thinking there is steeped in sound logic. If they could somehow convince Rivers to rejoin the Magic -- even if Doc insisted on a management-only role -- Dwight would surely be wowed. And the number of true stars in the Magic Kingdom would instantly double. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Doc Rivers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching 

The Bobcats also have permission from the Indiana Pacers to speak with assistant Brian Shaw and from the Los Angeles Lakers to speak with assistant coach Quin Snyder, the sources said. Shaw's interview will take place after the Pacers' season ends. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Quin Snyder 

The sources said Charlotte also will reach out to former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. The team is not expected to make a decision until after next week's draft lottery, at the earliest. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

Golden State Warriors' assistant coach, Michael Malone, is viewed by most as the hottest head coaching candidate out on the market. CSNNW.com has learned that Malone would have a great deal of interest in the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching position, according to multiple sources. CSNNW.com

Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Mike Malone