Celtics must move fast if they want to secure Jeff Van Gundy
By Adam Taylor | Last updated 6/15/24
The Boston Celtics are losing Charles Lee at the end of the season. The highly respected assistant coach will move to the Charlotte Hornets, where he will begin his head-coaching career. As such, the Celtics must find a suitable replacement to bolster Joe Mazzulla’s staff.
Former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy has been floated as a candidate to team up with Mazzulla next season. This year, he worked as a consultant for the Celtics alongside Mazzulla and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. However, according to a recent report from Marc Stein, the L.A. Clippers could look to add Van Gundy to Ty Lue’s coaching staff. The Clippers continue to construct a championship-level roster.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the LA Clippers have strong interest in hiring Celtics special adviser Jeff Van Gundy as a high-profile addition to Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff for next season and a strong chance at succeeding in that pursuit after the NBA Finals are complete,” Stein reported.
Van Gundy would be a strong addition to any team’s coaching staff. During his tenure as a head coach, he amassed a record of 430 wins and 318 losses, which equated to a 57.5% win ratio. His experience as a coach, analyst and consultant would bring a fresh perspective to any team. Van Gundy would likely be tempted by both projects, as each roster has elite talent at its disposal.
Therefore, the Celtics must move quickly. If they have identified Van Gundy as Lee’s replacement, they should begin negotiations immediately. There is no risk involved for them. They won’t upset the current coaching staff, as he would be slotting into a vacant slot. Signing him to a contract would remove the risk of losing him to another contending roster.
Van Gundy will be in high demand this summer. Stevens has proven he can secure elite talent and build elite support systems. If Boston wants Van Gundy, it’s unlikely the Clippers will get the opportunity to steal him away as long as they move swiftly to avoid any risk.
