For the second time in two years, the Celtics will need to fill a coaching position under head coach Joe Mazzulla during the offseason with his top assistant Charles Lee agreeing to a deal to become the next head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.

According to Marc Stein on his Substack, the Celtics are intrigued with the possibility of Jeff Van Gundy transitioning into a coaching role next season, moving him downstairs from his position as a senior consultant under GM Brad Stevens and his basketball operations.

Van Gundy in the front office featured him working with the team in Boston and their G-League affiliate in Maine. He’s had an up close and personal experience with both teams this season, mostly observing up close and maybe more hands on behind the scenes.

Van Gundy hasn’t been on the sidelines in a coaching capacity since 2007 with the Houston Rockets, when he was fired for unable to reach an agreement on a new contract. He was then hired by ESPN as a broadcaster and did that until July 2023, when he was part of the lay-off wave from ESPN. He was hired in October of 2023 by the Celtics.

It’s unclear what path is next for him. If he wanted to get back into coaching, he could’ve done so within the last 16 years that he was calling games. Perhaps being around the team in the consulting role he’s had with the team this season reignited his fire to be a coach and now there’ll be an opportunity in Boston next season.

The Celtics could also be losing assistant coach Sam Cassell, as Milwaukee is willing to make him the highest paid assistant in the NBA to reunite with head coach Doc Rivers once again on the sidelines for their 11th season together.

It’s not ideal, but maybe the experience of Van Gundy is enough to suffice having the need for two assistant coaches.

Jeff Van Gundy could shift back into coaching on the #Celtics next season on Joe Mazzulla’s staff as the lead assistant if Sam Cassell ends up in Milwaukee, as reports suggest as a possibility. Jeff Van Gundy has been an excellent coach throughout his career: pic.twitter.com/BDClNLFuUR

— The Celtics Files (@CelticsFiles) June 5, 2024

The Celtics have other priorities ahead of them before needing to fill coaching positions with a trip to the NBA Finals on their plate. If Van Gundy is looking to get back into the coaching realm, then there’s no better place to do it than in Boston.

Van Gundy has accepted an offer from the Los Angeles Clippers to become their lead assistant coach next year.

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Photo Credit: Jim Davis, The Boston Globe