Phil To Coach LeBron? Cavs see Phil

[BuckFoston]

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have entered the Phil Jackson Coaching Sweepstakes.

The club confirmed late Friday night that it has had preliminary talks with Jackson about its head coaching vacancy.

"We've had contact with Phil Jackson and are exploring all highly successful head coaches who are in a position to speak with us," Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said.

Carper said the team had a phone conversation with Jackson on Thursday. He was not aware if any other talks are planned.

The Cavaliers, who missed the NBA playoffs following a late-season collapse, joined the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers in pursuit of Jackson, who won nine NBA titles as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Lakers.

While Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has said he wants to hire a general manager first to hire Cleveland's next coach, that plan could change if the club has a realistic chance of getting the 59-year-old Jackson.

But to do so, the Cavaliers will have to outbid New York and Los Angeles -- something new owner Dan Gilbert is believed to be willing to do, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

While Gilbert has said he wants to hire a general manager, who would then hire Cleveland's next coach, that plan could change if the club has a realistic chance of getting the 59-year-old Jackson.

Earlier this week, Jackson met with Knicks president Isiah Thomas. He also reportedly had a meeting in Chicago with Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

Jackson had a "very good" meeting with Thomas on Monday in Los Angeles, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported.

New York and Los Angeles would appear to be more attractive markets than Cleveland. But the lure of coaching All-Star LeBron James would seem to make the Cavaliers enticing to Jackson, who had Michael Jordan in Chicago and later Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in Los Angeles.

Jackson was scheduled to meet with Bryant in Los Angeles this week, according to ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

However, sources close to Bryant said that he has not heard from Jackson about a possible meeting between the two. The sources said Bryant would not be opposed to such a get-together.

If the Cavaliers can't get Jackson, the next most likely candidate would be Cleveland native Flip Saunders, who was fired earlier this season in Minnesota.

Cleveland's season began to unravel in early March. With the team's playoff hopes fading fast, Gilbert fired Paul Silas with 18 games left. The Cavaliers then went 8-10 under interim coach Brendan Malone and finished 42-40, tied with New Jersey for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets won the tiebreaker and made the postseason. The Cavaliers haven't been to the playoffs since 1998.

Last week, Gilbert, who bought the Cavaliers for $375 million in January from Gordon Gund, continued to retool his team by firing general manager Jim Paxson with two years left on his contract.

Jackson led the Lakers to three championships in five years but left the club last June shortly after Los Angeles lost in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Jackson's final contract with the Lakers was a five-year, $30 million deal that could be dwarfed by his next package if he decides to return to coaching.http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2050145

[Steak]

This is old news I think.

Phil has withdrew his candidacy.

[Porter]

LeBron wants Nate McMillian. He hasnt been shy about it either. Thats been a huge rumor lately.

[Steak]

Then Lebron should go to Seattle because Nate is likely staying in Seattle. Even if Nate leaves Seattle, why would he want to go to Cleveland if Lebron bolts after next year.

[Porter]

LeBron would most likely stay if McMillian is there. If LeBron magically came to Seattle he would be the most popular player, potentially in Seattle History.

More than Griffey, Edgar, Ichiro, Payton, Buhner, Unit or Ray Allen.

[Steak]

Yeah. I hope Lebron stays in Cleveland. I am sick and tired of everyone leaving when things don't go right. Max Kellerman, who was fired from FSN with his lame show, I,Max being awful, is doing this stupid petition for 1050 ESPN Radio about bringing Lebron to NY to play for the Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets. There are rumors floating that he may be interested in playing in NY. If he plays in NY, it would be with the Nets hence why I think Kidd could be moved to save up money for him. If Lebron plays for a NY team, I will be really peeved.

I am praying things work out in Cleveland so that he can stay.

As great as Lebron is, Edgar would still be beloved in Seattle over Lebron. You should have mentioned Shaun Alexander, who was upset that he did not get a chance to be the rushing leader, in the list of Seattle athletes.