More candidates might be in line to interview for the Bobcats’ coaching vacancy.
The Bobcats apparently will meet with Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder in the coming weeks, ESPN The Magazine reported.
After finishing the season with a 7-59 record and the worst winning percentage in NBA history (.106), the Bobcats are looking to replace Paul Silas, whose contract was not renewed.
Reports indicate that the Bobcats and owner Michael Jordan has previously interviewed a list of candidates that includes Jerry Sloan, Patrick Ewing, Nate McMillan and Silas’ son, Stephen.
Shaw and Snyder are hot, young candidates. Shaw was with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phil Jackson before joining the Pacers. Snyder has worked with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
--Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing reportedly has a "good chance" of getting the Bobcats' head coaching job.
The former New York Knicks star center interviewed for the Charlotte position May 24 and 25, and the New York Post reported that a source said he has a good chance to land the job.
Ewing has been an assistant coach with the Magic since 2007. He recently has been receiving interest as a possible head coach.
Ewing interviewed with Charlotte president Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho on May 24. Ewing also knows Charlotte owner Michael Jordan from his playing days.
Ewing completed his fifth season with the Magic and has been an assistant coach for nine seasons, also serving in Washington and Houston. Ewing has one year left on his contract with the Magic.
"My goal is to be a head coach," Ewing told The Post in late March when the Magic visited the Garden. "I hope to get interviews everywhere there's a job open."
Ewing also may be considered for an assistant job with the Knicks if interim coach Mike Woodson is retained.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Bobcats reportedly interviewed Jerry Sloan for their vacant coaching job on May 25.
Sloan, the former Utah Jazz coach, met with Bobcats owner Michael Jordan and other team executives, according to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City.
"They might come back, they might not," Sloan told the newspaper. "I can't judge that. We'll just have to wait and see where it goes from there. ... They want to make a decision when they can and do all their homework."
Sloan, 70, coached the Jazz for 23 seasons before stepping down in February 2011.
--Ironic that the Bobcats, closing their season with the worst winning percentage in NBA history at stake, went head-to-head with the NFL draft. Most heads in Charlotte were turned to who the Carolina Panthers would draft ninth overall, not whether this team managed to hold off the Knicks at the end of a miserable season.
The measure of how bad this team was went beyond the lack of victories; most nights they weren't even in games: They lost 21 games by 20 or more points and nine games by 30 or more points.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"A lot of things need to change about our culture. It's not acceptable to lose." -- Shooting guard Gerald Henderson.
PLAYER NOTES
--F Corey Maggette seems a candidate for the amnesty clause, since eliminating his final season would knock about $12 million off the Bobcats' salary cap.
--G Gerald Henderson lobbied for the Bobcats to bring back Paul Silas. Henderson thrived under Silas' encouraging approach after struggling to satisfy Silas' predecessor, Larry Brown.
--G D.J. Augustin played the finale despite severe knee pain from on-going tendinitis. Silas planned to play him just a few minutes against the Knicks but Augustin said if he was playing at all, then he was playing the whole game. He ended up playing 31 minutes.
