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NBA Coaching Rumors: Patrick Ewing to Interview for Charlotte Bobcats Position, According to Report

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE
Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats' coaching search will include Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, as the NBA Hall-of-Famer will interview for the vacancy Charlotte created when it dismissed Paul Silas following the 2011/12 season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Nate McMillan, whom the Portland Trail Blazers fired mid-season, is also a candidate for the Charlotte job, as is lead Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Malone.

The Magic are in the midst of a playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, so Ewing's interview with Charlotte will have to wait until Orlando's season ends. As the Pacers hold a 3-1 advantage, that could be as soon as Tuesday evening when they host Orlando for Game Five in Indianapolis.

Ewing, who has served as an NBA assistant coach for eight seasons but has no head-coaching experience, is close with Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, who will have to sell any potential hire on the prospect of coaching the worst team in league history: under Silas, Charlotte went 7-59 for a .106 win percentage, the worst in NBA recordbooks, and closed the season on a 23-game skid.

Ewing interviewed with the Detroit Pistons for their vacancy in 2011, as Wojnarowski notes, and though he made a good impression on personnel boss Joe Dumars, Lawrence Frank ultimately won the job instead.

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