HoopsHype.com Rumors

"I don't think 'worried' would be the right term for me," Van Gundy said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I think it's interesting, though. I would have ... if I was them ... most likely pursued and prioritized him earlier this summer certainly. Because just like a player, you don't want them to get into their free agency year, and certainly he would have many suitors if in fact they decided not to offer him a fair contract extension. And he'll have other options. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

Jason Quick: Have solid confirmation that Jeff Van Gundy does not want to return to coaching this year and Stan Van Gundy will take at least one year off Twitter

Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

Jason Quick: Been told Jeff Van Gundy not interested in returning to coaching until after his daughter graduates from high school in June of 2013 Twitter

Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

Royce Young: Presti on the Phil Jackson/Jeff Van Gundy rumors: "To me, it's rubbish." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

The reality is that Brooks and his bosses, after months of talks, don't have a deal ... and time is running out. And sources say that the Thunder, just to be safe, have started brainstorming in-house about whom they plan to pursue should negotiations with Brooks collapse. Two names, according to sources, that have come up in those discussions: ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy and, yes, 11-ringed coaching free agent Phil Jackson. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

Scotty Brooks' contract as OKC coach ends when June ends. The widespread assumption persists that Brooks and the Thunder will hammer out a new deal now that they no longer have a deep playoff run to manage, but sources close to the process continue to caution that A) extension talks have been slow-moving for weeks now and B) concern is rising within the organization that the sides are not nearly as destined to reach an agreement as everyone else around the league presumes. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

Sources told ESPN.com this week that the Thunder have offered Brooks an annual salary "north of $4 million." But those same sources maintain that the length of the deal is the primary holdup. Brooks is said to be seeking a guaranteed four-year deal; sources say OKC prefers a two- or three-year deal. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

The strong belief in coaching circles nonetheless remains that Brooks and the Thunder will eventually find a middle ground. It's difficult for anyone on the outside to envision otherwise given how quickly they've moved into the NBA's elite under the 47-year-old and the strong bond Brooks -- for all the Erik Spoelstra-esque skepticism he hears as a young coach in charge of a legit title contender -- has forged with the key figures in the locker room. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy 

Alex Kennedy: Jeff Van Gundy: "Maurice Cheeks was so good when I coached him, I named my cat after him. He died 18 years later." Twitter

Maurice Cheeks, Jeff Van Gundy 

NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy of ABC/ESPN believes the Charlotte Bobcats, as an organization, tanked this season. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Jeff Van Gundy 

“I don’t think the players and the coaching staff (tanked). I think the organization did by not getting the best roster” available, Van Gundy said. “You could make the case at any position that they did not have a top-15 player” at that position in the league. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Jeff Van Gundy 

Jeff Van Gundy on Tuesday criticized the Orlando Magic for firing his older brother, Stan Van Gundy. Speaking on a teleconference with reporters to promote ESPN’s coverage of the Eastern Conference finals, Jeff Van Gundy was asked about recent comments he made in which he was critical of Magic CEO Alex Martins. “I know that in the three years before Stan came to Orlando, Dwight Howard had never had a winning record and he had never won a playoff game and he’d never been the Defensive Player of the Year,” Jeff responded. “He’d never been an All-NBA player. So I know all those things. “Listen, teams have the right to change coaches. . . . Every coach has been through it except for the very few lucky ones. But there is a manner in which you go about changing that shows you have a dignity and an integrity about you. Their callous disregard for what Stan helped them to do — winning more playoff series in his five years and they have had in the entire time they’ve been a franchise. Add into that that he’s my brother? Sure, it impacted my comments. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Alex Martins, Jeff Van Gundy 

Van Gundy's brother Jeff made his feelings clear in an interview with fellow ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith in a radio interview on Thursday. "For him to have been in the office all day and the president -- Alex Martins -- knows that he's there, but then lets him and calls him on the phone to fire him? It's unprofessional. Just unprofessional," Van Gundy said during the radio interview. SB Nation

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

"To try to make everyone believe that Dwight Howard didn't have a part in this is absurd," Jeff Van Gundy said. "Just say, 'we fired this guy because we feel this is our best chance to keep Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard and I decided to fire him.'" SB Nation

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

"He said that my brother's the finest X's and O's coach that he's been around in his 25 years in the business. Listen, all you have done in your 25 years in the business is release press releases and run the business side," Jeff Van Gundy said. "You don't know if a ball is blown up or stuffed! You don't know if their pick and roll coverage on the side or high was right or wrong! Just say I have no knowledge about basketball." SB Nation

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Alex Martins, Jeff Van Gundy 

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 

That doesn’t mean that everyone’s happy with the way this season went down. The compressed schedule raised serious concerns among coaches right from the start, and before the year, former coach Jeff Van Gundy called the 66-game slate a “money grab” by players and owners. Asked whether the schedule has worked out better or worse than he anticipated, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “Worse. I just think a lot of teams have not been able to work on a lot of stuff, especially, I look at some of our young guys who might have been able to help us in an 82-game season, they’ve had zero practices. On the days that we do practice, it’s not as competitive as it would have been, and I think those guys have been robbed of a year in a lot of ways, the young guys. ... Execution, it has taken all year. I mean, we’re still working on it. It’s been hard that way. I didn’t anticipate it being this difficult.” Sporting News

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Schedule, Jeff Van Gundy 

David Baumann: Jeff Van Gundy to SI: "Stan wants to return... let's face it, ORL has had a history of this. It has not worked out well for a coach there." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

Jeff Van Gundy admits he has a horse in the race. That's the expression he uses and he's smart not to obfuscate and avoid the issue. About an hour before calling the Knicks' thrilling overtime win over the Bulls on Sunday afternoon, the ESPN/ABC announcer spoke to SI.com about the fractured relationship between his brother Stan, the coach of the Orlando Magic, and star center Dwight Howard. "People have in their own mind how I should answer that question which is, 'I'm unbiased and I'll just call it straight down the middle," said Jeff. "That's not true, and it would be disingenuous. I have a horse in the race and I think when you do, you say this is where I am coming from." SI.com

Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, Jeff Van Gundy