Paul Silas will be the new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers after reaching agreement with the team on a long-term contract, The Associated Press learned yesterday.
The deal was being finalized yesterday, according to two sources. Silas beat out former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who had several discussions with Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson about the possibility of becoming LeBron James' first pro coach.
The Cavaliers have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and have said they will select James, the 18-year-old high school phenom from Akron.
The 76ers still have not gotten permission from Portland to talk to Maurice Cheeks about its vacant head coaching job. On Saturday, a basketball source speaking on condition of anonymity said Portland had given permission to the 76ers to speak to Cheeks. Subsequent reporting determined that information to be inaccurate.
