Steve Clifford to coach Charlotte Bobcats

Former Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford has agreed to terms with the Charlotte Bobcats and is slated to sign a three-year, $6 million contract to be their new head coach. The third year is a team option. He is replacing Mike Dunlap, who was fired in April.

This is Clifford’s first time at the helm of an NBA team as a head coach, but he has shared many a bench with some veteran coaches. Aside from working with the Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni, he’s also assisted sibling coaches Jeff and Stan Van Gundy in separate occasions. He worked with Stan in Orlando and Jeff in Houston.

The Charlotte soon-to-be Hornets finished with the second-worst record in the NBA last season with a record of 21-61, so Clifford will have his hands full in turning around Charlotte’s lack of Ws.