-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Thursday night that the Los Angeles Clippers have hired Mike Dunleavy as their new coach, replacing interim coach Dennis Johnson. Dunleavy Dunleavy will be introduced in his new role at a 4 p.m. ET news conference today, but it's not yet known whether Johnson, who replaced the fired Alvin Gentry on March 3, will remain with the club. After losing out to Jeff Van Gundy for the Houston Rockets' job, Dunleavy was also a candidate for the up-for-sale Atlanta Hawks, the only team in the league that hasn't named its coach for next season. ESPN.com reported in mid-June that Dunleavy -- the only candidate to meet face-to-face with owner Donald T. Sterling -- emerged as the Clippers' leading candidate. The sides finally reached terms on multiyear deal after a month of on-and-off negotiations, and it's believed that Dunleavy will earn at least $1 million more per season than Gentry, who was at the bottom of the coaches' pay scale when dismissed at $1.5 million. Returning to Los Angeles will be a homecoming of sorts for Dunleavy. In his first season on an NBA bench, Dunleavy guided the Lakers to the 1991 NBA Finals. Dunleavy has a 398-390 career coaching record in 10 seasons coaching the Lakers, Milwaukee and Portland. He twice reached the Western Conference finals with Portland but was fired after the 2000-01 season when the volatile Blazers -- still reeling from their Game 7 meltdown against the Lakers in the previous season -- were swept by L.A. in the first round. It remains to be seen how the Clippers fare in free agency, with Dunleavy said to be concerned throughout negotiations by the uncertain state of the team's roster. Center Michael Olowokandi and swingman Eric Piatkowski are unrestricted free agents. Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Andre Miller and Corey Maggette are restricted free agents. All of those players have drawn significant interest from other teams. good move
