Indiana Pacers: Should the team pursue Steve Clifford?

The pool of available coaches to poach in the offseason just got bigger for the Indiana Pacers, whose noncommittal to current head coach Nate Bjorkgren after a season full of disappointments makes them a key player in the coaching hunt.

Newly departed coaches Terry Stotts and Steve Clifford are the recent additions to an interesting array of NBA coaches who are yet to man their next sidelines. We’ve already covered the possibility of Stotts joining the Pacers. In this piece, I’ll zoom in on whether coach Clifford deserve a vigorous look from the front office.

The 59-year-old veteran coach does not have a sterling record, registering a sub .500 record for his career at .458 to the tune of 292 wins against 345 losses, but in his eight-year head coaching tenure, he’s been able to guide his team to the playoffs four times. If that doesn’t impress you, he’s done this without a gifted roster to boot.

With stints in Charlotte and Orlando, along with a lengthy 13-year career as an assistant coach, Steve Clifford should be a great prospect among teams with head coaching vacancies. Should the Indiana Pacers be one of those in pursuit?