Rambis to Coach Again?

Seattle Sonics: Wilkens has informed coaching candidates that he won’t begin formal interviews until at least June, but a league source said Wilkens will conduct informal meetings at the NBA pre-draft camp in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., which begins May 29.

The list of coaching candidates includes Los Angeles Lakers assistant coaches Jim Cleamons and Kurt Rambis. San Antonio assistant general manager Sam Presti is widely believed to be near the top of a short list of GM candidates, but a Spurs spokesperson said weeks ago that employees generally do not interview for positions while the team is still in the playoffs.

San Antonio is tied 2-2 in its best-of-seven series with Phoenix, and if the Spurs advance to the Western Conference finals, their season won’t end until June.

While the coaching search is slowly developing, candidates are beginning to emerge. The Lakers confirmed that the Sonics have requested and received permission to speak with Cleamons, who was head coach of the Dallas Mavericks from 1996 to 1998. Cleamons told reporters in L.A. he wasn’t sure when he would interview with Wilkens.

…and Sac Queens:

Petrie said he plans to sit down with former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, former Kings point guard and current New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus and former Kings assistant coach Elston Turner. The Kings also have asked and received permission to talk with three current assistant coaches: Houston’s Tom Thibodeau and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis. Petrie said he also has received permission to talk with Indiana assistant Chuck Person but has not scheduled an interview.