PUR/USA - Lakers assistant Cleamons to visit Puerto Rico and discuss NT job

SAN JOSE (FIBA Americas Championship) - Puerto Rico basketball officials will meet with Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons this week and discuss the possibility of the veteran leading the national team at the FIBA Americas Championship.

The 61-year-old Cleamons, a former NBA player, served as a head coach for the Dallas Mavericks in 1996-97 but is best known as a trusted aide to Phil Jackson with both the Chicago Bulls and most recently, the Lakers.

As part of his visit, Cleamons will watch a BSN league game between the Bayamón Cowboys and Guaynabo Mets on Wednesday.

"That does not mean he will be chosen, but we want to interview him personally and for him to see our league," said evaluation committee member Fernando Olivera to Primera Hora.

Puerto Rico Basketball Federation president Carlos Beltran said: "We want someone for whom the Puerto Rico team is his first responsibility, at least for the next four months, and shares the same passion for this team as the four million inhabitants of this island."

Cleamons will be the second high profile American to interview for the Puerto Rico job since the plan to have Louisville coach Rick Pitino in charge fell apart last month.

Former Wake Forest and South Carolina coach Dave Odom has also visited the country and met with officials.

Pitino, who has also coached Kentucky and Providence College and held the reins to the NBA's New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, had been set to take charge.

But his hope of taking his Louisville team to Puerto Rico this summer was dashed by the NCAA, which does not allow coaches to take teams to other US States or American territories.

FIBA