Heisler: In choosing Clippers coach, will Donald draw name from a hat?

1. Brian Shaw. Yes, Brian Shaw, even if Donald hasn’t hired anyone without head coaching experience since Jimmy Lynam, when the team was in San Diego. With the Pacers going seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, Shaw is red-hot, even moreso in Los Angeles, where insiders know he was Kobe Bryant’s choice for the job that went to Mike Brown.

Shaw wouldn’t cost as much as Hollins, who may or may not get a big offer from the Nets, since Brian reportedly also is a finalist for that job. Shaw will also get a rave recommendation from Pacers owner Herb Simon, Donald’s other good friend among owners and his Malibu neighbor.

With Phil Jackson helping Detroit in its search by recommending Shaw as well, Brian’s days of being passed over are over. Not that the Clippers fare well in these kinds of competitions.

2. Lionel Hollins. Deemed a big-timer, even if his star has dimmed since “the Cinderella Grizzlies” were swept by the Spurs and the team seems to want to usher him out instead of trying to woo him back. Clippers officials have endorsed him, and Donald could hire him today.

Since they just got around to getting permission to talk to him and have yet to meet with him, Donald isn’t leaping at the opportunity.

3. Byron Scott. A CP3 fave from their days together in Nawlins, but looks like he’s down to
getting the job only if Hollins and Shaw wind up elsewhere.

Out: Jeff Van Gundy. JVG’s intrigued at the notion of coaching the Clips but appreciative of the job and lifestyle he has been afforded by ESPN, so someone would have to court him agressively, offering a lot of money. That lets Donald out.

Of course, the current list of solid choices won’t look the same way in a year when they get jobs and find out why the vacancies existed in the first place. So it would be a really good idea to get the best guy.

Herewith, my personal breakdown.

1. Van Gundy: Terrific coach of teams that weren’t this good. Big-market personality.

2. (tie) Hollins: Been there, done that. When people say, “What did he win?” they mean, “What has he won lately?” The last game you coach is hardly all that matters. It was Hollins who took a rag-tag bunch of scorers and turned them into a defensive power.

2. (tie) Scott: Been there and done that, too. But not at Hollins’ level, or at least not since taking the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Byron has a great, no-BS presence. He often ticks off his stars who are used to being toadied to, but he and CP3 are tight. Tactically? That’s beyond my competence. But detractors note he doesn’t pore over video 24/7, or, as they say, he is the only NBA coach who travels with his gold clubs.

4. Shaw: Hasn’t been there or done that. You’re always rolling the dice with assistants who haven’t been head guys, unless they’re the new breed of Tom Thibodeau types who can install a defense that changes your fortunes overnight. Shaw was Frank Vogel’s top assistant, but Jim Boylan ran the D. On the other hand, very few assistants ever get coaching jobs with teams as good as this one.

So as the sun sets on another day without a decision, we wish good luck to the Clippers. As always, they will need it.

Hall of Fame writer Mark Heisler is a regular contributor to SheridanHoops and LakersNation. His power rankings appear every Wednesday during the regular season, and his columns and video reports appear regularly here. Follow him on Twitter.