Lakers assistant Steve Clifford reportedly agrees to coach Bobcats
Assistant coach Steve Clifford will not return to the Lakers next season.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports!, Clifford has an agreement in place to be the Charlotte Bobcats’ head coach.
Clifford was added to Mike Brown’s Lakers staff for the 2012-13 season. Brown was fired five games into the season but Clifford stayed on with Coach Mike D’Antoni.
Before joining the Lakers, Clifford was an assistant with the Orlando Magic under Stan Van Gundy. He also worked with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets for Jeff Van Gundy.
The Bobcats finished the season with a 21-61 record, second worst in the NBA.
Clifford’s deal is believed to be for three years and $6 million, with the final year a team option.
The Bobcats recently let coach Mike Dunlap go after just one season.
The Lakers previously had informed Chuck Person and Bernie Bickerstaff they would not be brought back as assistants. Player development coach Phil Handy will reunite with Brown as an assistant in Cleveland, where Brown has been hired as head coach. Eddie Jordan left to coach at Rutgers.
Clifford’s departure will open up another spot on D’Antoni’s staff.
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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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