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Source: Pelicans will hire Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry to four-year deal

The New Orleans Pelicans will sign Golden State Warriors associate head coach Alvin Gentry to a four-year, $13.75M deal, including a $4M team option in final season, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

(Getty)
(Getty)

Gentry was in New Orleans on Friday night for a second interview that concluded on Saturday morning with a meeting with Pelicans owner Tom Benson, a source said. Gentry is scheduled to fly back to the Bay Area on Saturday night. Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave Gentry his blessing to go to New Orleans despite the fact that he was missing Golden State practices in the process. Gentry had been worried about being a distraction as the Warriors prepare for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

“I’m extremely happy for Alvin and wish him the best of luck in this new challenge," Kerr said. "He’s had a tremendous impact on the success of our team this season and, personally, has been instrumental in my development as a coach. His experience as a head coach in the NBA has been invaluable during my first season and will, likewise, serve the Pelicans well as they move forward. Our loss is New Orleans’ gain and I know he’ll do an outstanding job with the Pelicans once the NBA Finals are completed.”

Gentry, 60, has a 335-370 record in 12 seasons as a head coach with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns and has worked as an assistant head coach the Clippers last season before joining the Warriors. The offensive-minded coach will begin working for the Pelicans after the NBA Finals. Gentry will replace former Pelicans coach Monty Williams, who was fired after leading the franchise to 45 wins and the playoffs.

Former Nuggets coach Brian Shaw is interested in replacing Gentry as the Warriors associate head coach, a source told Yahoo Sports. Shaw is an Oakland native who attended Warriors practice on Saturday. The Shaw family recently moved back to their Oakland Hills home.

ESPN.com first reported Gentry's imminent hiring.