HoopsHype.com Rumors

Rick Bonnell: For what it's worth, Lakers assistant Steve Clifford was in earlier in the week, Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek here now. Twitter @rick_bonnell

Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Coaching, Jeff Hornacek, Steve Clifford 

Ken Berger: The Bobcats interviewed Jeff Hornaceck today after interviewing Steve Clifford earlier in the week. Next up for Clifford, the Suns. Twitter @KBergCBS

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Jeff Hornacek, Steve Clifford 

The Suns will interview Houston assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Friday and have permission from the Los Angeles Lakers to talk to their assistant, Steve Clifford, a source said in confirming a Yahoo! report. The Suns also expect to interview Utah assistant Jeff Hornacek, an ex-Sun who lives in the Valley, and Quin Snyder, who resigned at Missouri amid an NCAA probation in 2006 and turned to a pro career as a D-League coach, NBA assistant and currently CSKA Moscow’s assistant. Arizona Republic

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Coaching, Jeff Hornacek, Quin Snyder, JB Bickerstaff, Steve Clifford 

The Phoenix Suns recently asked and received permission from the Lakers to talk with assistant coach Steve Clifford about their vacant head-coaching position, according to Lakers spokesman John Black. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff will meet with Suns officials on Friday in Phoenix, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Suns have also received permission to interview Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, sources said. Bickerstaff (Detroit and Milwaukee) and Clifford (Charlotte and Milwaukee) have each interviewed for two other jobs in recent weeks. Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, JB Bickerstaff, Steve Clifford 

David Baumann: Stan Van Gundy just told us #Lakers assistant Steve Clifford interviewed in Milwaukee and now will interview in Charlotte today. Twitter @DavidBaumann33

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Clifford 

D'Antoni chose not to retain assistant coach Chuck Person, a Howard confidant, on his staff for next season. Also, Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, who was with Howard in Orlando for five seasons before both of them came to L.A. last year, has become a hot head coaching candidate, interviewing with Milwaukee and receiving interest from Charlotte. One source described the potential departure of Clifford, coupled with the loss of Person as "removing the buffers," between Howard and D'Antoni, "which is a bad thing." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chuck Person, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard, Steve Clifford 

Marc Stein: Word is Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford gets his interview for Bobcats' HC opening Tuesday. CHA interviewed Kelvin Sampson last week Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Steve Clifford 

McDonough has yet to set up any formal meetings with candidates, but a league source told Yahoo! Sports that he's been calling for background on coaches including Utah Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek, Moscow CSKA assistant Quin Snyder, Houston Rockets assistants J.B. Bickerstaff and Kelvin Sampson and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, among others. Yahoo! Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Jeff Hornacek, Quin Snyder, Steve Clifford, Ryan McDonough 

Ken Berger: The Bobcats will meet with Lakers assistant Steve Clifford next week, sources say. Twitter @KBergCBS

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Marc Stein: Kelvin Sampson had his long-anticipated interview w/Charlotte today. Next up for Bobcats: Steve Clifford after his interview w/Bucks today Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Steve Clifford 

Frank Isola: Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, interviewing for Bucks head coaching job, is being courted by at least two other teams, including Charlotte Twitter @FisolaNYDN

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford is interviewing with the Milwaukee Bucks for their head-coaching job on Monday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Milwaukee has interviewed Nate McMillan and Houston Rockets assistants Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff for its head-coaching job. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson, JB Bickerstaff, Steve Clifford, Milwuakee Bucks 

After joining Mike Brown's coaching staff with the Lakers over the summer, new coach Mike D'Antoni plans to keep Clifford as part of his revamped staff next season. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Steve Clifford 

Gery Woelfel: All in the Family: Clifford, like Hammond and Weltman, are all represented by Steve Kauffman. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Jeff Weltman, John Hammond, Agents, Steve Kauffman, Steve Clifford 

Bucks GM John Hammond, who got a three-year extension in January, has interviewed former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson for the head coaching job. It is believed Hammond also will reach out to former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, a Van Gundy disciple who worked for Stan in Orlando and brother Jeff in Houston, sources said. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Clifford 

Preferring a small staff to the one he inherited from previous coach Mike Brown, current Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni will not retain assistants Chuck Person and Bernie Bickerstaff for the 2013-14 season. Fellow 2012-13 assistant Eddie Jordan recently accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers University, leaving three assistants on D’Antoni’s staff: Steve Clifford, Darvin Ham and Mike’s brother Dan D’Antoni. Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Darvin Ham, Eddie Jordan, Dan D'Antoni, Steve Clifford 

Mike Bresnahan: Dan D'Antoni, Steve Clifford, Darvin Ham and Phil Handy still on Lakers' coaching staff. Alvin Gentry would be logical hire as well. Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Darvin Ham, Alvin Gentry, Dan D'Antoni, Steve Clifford, Phil Handy 

The Charlotte Bobcats have asked for and received permission to interview Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford for their head-coaching job, a Lakers spokesman confirmed to the Observer. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Other possible candidates could be Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford and Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Malone, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Malone, Steve Clifford