HoopsHype.com Rumors

Former Orlando Magic assistant coach Steve Clifford has agreed to join Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown on his coaching staff, CSNNW.com has learned. The terms of the agreement are expected to be finalized by the end of the week. Clifford was in talks with the Portland Trail Blazers in recent days for their assistant opening as well. However, the chance to be a part of the Laker organization was too much to pass up, CSNNW.com was told from a source close to the situation. CSNNW.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

In Los Angeles, Clifford will be a familiar face to the team's new franchise center Dwight Howard. Initially, the Magic had shown interest in Clifford filling their head coaching vacancy before the team decided to go in a different direction and later hired Jacque Vaughn from San Antonio. CSNNW.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Stotts said his first order of business will be to complete his coaching staff. He said Kaleb Canales has accepted his invitation to stay on the Blazers staff after he was a finalist for the head job. Stotts would not reveal coaches he is pursuing, but former Orlando assistant Steve Clifford is believed to be under consideration. Clifford was one of the final four candidates for the Portland job. The Blazers have also asked two teams for permission to speak to their coaches for a spot on Stotts' staff. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: Also look for Blazers finalist Steve Clifford to get consideration for Stotts' staff. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

The Blazers on Wednesday eliminated Steve Clifford and Elston Turner and will now focus on Stotts, the Dallas assistant who has been a head coach in Atlanta and Milwaukee, and Canales, the 34-year-old former video coordinator who coached the Blazers on an interim basis last season after Nate McMillan was fired. No timeline has been set by the team to make a hire. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: Owner Paul Allen was not involved in the interviews of Stotts, Clifford, Turner and Canales. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Paul Allen, Kaleb Canales, Owners, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

The Portland Trail Blazers began round two by interviewing Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts this morning and former Orlando Magic assistant Steve Clifford this afternoon for three and a half hours, CSNNW.com has learned. Phoenix Suns assistant Elston Turner will be interviewed tomorrow morning followed by Trail Blazers interim head coach Kaleb Canales. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: Blazers' final four coaching candidates will interview today and Tues. Steve Clifford, former asst. under Jeff and Stan Van Gundy is today. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Clifford 

On Wednesday the Portland Trail Blazers narrowed their head coach search to four candidates – Phoenix Suns assistant Elston Turner, Dallas Mavericks assistant Terry Stotts, former Orlando Magic assistant Steve Clifford, and Trail Blazers interim head coach Kaleb Canales. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Kerry Eggers: Look for Blazer coach finalists (Canales, Clifford, Stotts, Turner) to re-interview with Olshey/exec staff before 1 or 2 go b4 paul allen Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: The Oregonian has learned the Blazers Final Four coaching candidates: Terry Stotts, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford and Kaleb Canales Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: The four candidates will be brought into Portland for a second-round of interviews next week Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

The initial pool of candidates is large -- bigger than the seven to 10 he estimated it would be last week -- and the majority are assistants on NBA teams. On Monday, Olshey interviewed Golden State assistant Michael Malone, Chicago assistant Adrian Griffin and former Orlando assistant Steve Clifford as well as Phoenix assistant Elston Turner. Atlanta assistant and former Oregon State standout Lester Conner also interviewed. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Adrian Griffin, Elston Turner, Michael Malone, Steve Clifford 

Sam Amick: Add another name to Portland coaching search list: former Orlando asst. Steve Clifford. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Sam Amick: Add another name to Portland coaching search list: former Orlando asst. Steve Clifford. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Sources confirmed Steve Clifford, who spent six seasons with Thibodeau in New York and Houston, will replace assistant coach Rick Brunson, who left for Charlotte. CSNChicago.com first reported the staff move. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

KC Johnson: Confirming @Aggrey Sam report. Steve Clifford could replace Rick Brunson on Thibs' staff. Trib reported earlier Brunson headed to CHAR. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

David Baumann: A reliable source close to situation told me the #Magic, as of Fri., have not reached out to Steve Clifford for the head coaching vacancy. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Sources also revealed that they have all been asked to consider Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone and Magic assistant Steve Clifford in their search for a head coach. HoopsWorld

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Mike Malone, Steve Clifford 

If the Charlotte Bobcats head down that assistant-ready-to-be-a-head-coach route, here are two names worth considering: Golden State’s Mike Malone and Orlando’s Steve Clifford. Malone is a defensive specialist who is Mark Jackson’s lead assistant with the Warriors. Previously he worked for the New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a big part of Monty Williams’ improvement of the Hornets’ defense when they went 46-36 two seasons ago. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Coaching, Mike Malone, Steve Clifford