NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson is scheduled to talk to the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Hornets next week about their coaching vacancies.
Johnson said he will meet with the Sixers on Monday and Hornets on Tuesday in Texas. He has been working as a TV analyst for ESPN, which first reported his plans.
Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman said the team has no comment and the 76ers said they do not comment on coaching searches.
Johnson coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, going 194-70 in the regular season and 23-24 in the playoffs. He guided the Mavs to the NBA finals in 2006, but was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008.
The Sixers and Hornets both missed the playoffs this season. Philadelphia fired coach Eddie Jordan after finishing with a 27-55 record. Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, who stepped in as coach after Byron Scott was fired nine games into the season, went back to the front office full time after New Orleans wound up 37-45.
The next Hornets coach likely will work under new ownership.
George Shinn is in negotiations to sell his majority share to minority owner Gary Chouest, a south Louisiana native and owner of a company that builds and operates vessels for the offshore oil and gas industry.
Johnson grew up in New Orleans and went to college at Southern in Baton Rouge before a 16-year NBA playing career.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.