Earlier tonight, the Bobcats announced that they have found their man in Lakers assistant Steve Clifford. Whether you like the hire or think that Charlotte should have pursued one of the other candidates like Kelvin Sampson or Alvin Gentry, everyone can agree that Clifford has his work cut out for him. Here's the latest reactions on Charlotte's decision..
- Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld (on Twitter) opines that Clifford is a cheap hire who won't mind losing for two years. He believes that Clifford will wind up being replaced when the team eventually starts winning.
- Clifford's departure from the Lakers marks another shift in which Mike D'Antoni's coaching staff has drastically altered since the end of the season, writes Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News (Sulia link). Assistant Eddie Jordan took the Rutgers job before the NBA playoffs started while D'Antoni let Bernie Bickerstaff and Chuck Person go soon after the Lakers' first-round playoff exit. Lakers players development coach Phil Handy left as well to join Mike Brown's staff in Cleveland.
- Jeff Van Gundy is a big fan of the hire, telling Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter) that Clifford was a no-brainer in the same way that Tom Thibodeau was in Chicago. "This guy has It. When he gets his opportunity, he'll knock it out of the park," said the former coach and co-worker of Clifford (link).
- Quentin Richardson congratulated Clifford via Twitter.