Report: Pelicans interview Jeff Van Gundy for head coaching vacancy

The New Orleans Pelicans interviewed Jeff Van Gundy for their head coach opening Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

On Wednesday, the former NBA coach-turned-broadcaster declined to comment on The Dan Patrick Show if he'd been contacted by the Pelicans. However, he did admit an opportunity to coach a top-level player like Anthony Davis would intrigue him.

"Anybody who that says, 'Nah ... I wouldn't want to coach (Davis) who is a top-five player and a great person,' I wouldn't believe that if someone said that," Van Gundy said.

Tuesday's in-person interview reportedly came after a series of telephone conversations with Pelicans management.

There are several layers to the bigger story surrounding the Pelicans' supposed previous interest in Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, a close friend and protege of Van Gundy's.

In January, Van Gundy ripped into Bulls management over its perceived treatment of Thibodeau while calling a game in his role as an ABC/ESPN color commentator.

The Pelicans may be floating names like Van Gundy's in order to give the impression they have a frontrunner, possibly allowing the Bulls to release Thibodeau from the high-stakes game of chicken that appears to be underway, The Sporting News' Sean Deveney reported on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Bulls may be nearing a decision to finally let Thibodeau go.

Thibodeau has been speculated as a no-brainer candidate for the Pelicans if and when he breaks ties with Chicago, although CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported Wednesday that may not be the case.

Prior to the Van Gundy report, the only other potential replacement for Monty Williams that the Pelicans were known to have interviewed is Golden State Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry, but a subsequent report surfaced that they had also met with Scott Skiles. Skiles, however, is said to be nearing a deal to coach the Orlando Magic, who have also been tied to Thibodeau at various times.

Van Gundy last coached in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2007. In 11 seasons as a head coach with the Rockets and New York Knicks, he compiled a record of 430-318 and is known, like Thibodeau, for overseeing tough defensive squads.