Rockets say Van Gundy likely will decide today By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle The wait for Jeff Van Gundy's reply will apparently end today. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said he expects to hear today Van Gundy's answer to his offer to make Van Gundy the Rockets' 10th head coach. Van Gundy left town Friday saying he would take the weekend to consider the Rockets position and a move to Houston. His agent, Jim Ornstein, on Saturday told Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg that Van Gundy likely would not call with an answer until today. Dawson and Rockets owner Leslie Alexander began their search two weeks ago by interviewing Van Gundy, making the former Knicks coach their top choice nearly a week ago. "I wasn't expecting a call (Sunday)," Dawson said. "He said, `Let me think about it through the weekend' and then he would let me know. And his agent told Michael he would take the weekend. We didn't really expect to hear until (today.)" Van Gundy has also been courted by the Wizards. There has been widespread speculation that the Wizards could make an offer worth $35 million over five years plus a small ownership percentage. The Rockets and Ornstein have not begun serious contract talks, but the Rockets are expected to offer a four- or five-year contract worth between the $4 million per season Paul Silas received from the Cavaliers and the $5 million per season the Pistons gave Larry Brown. But the value of the potential contracts does not seem to be Van Gundy's primary consideration because his representatives have not asked the Rockets to match the offer thought available in Washington. After a two-day visit to Houston to tour the Rockets' facilities and check out neighborhoods, homes and schools, Van Gundy's decision seemed to be about more personal considerations. Before telling Van Gundy, 41, that he was their pick to succeed Rudy Tomjanovich, who stepped down May 23, the Rockets also had considered Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is considered the favorite with the Hawks and Clippers, and has been contacted by the Wizards. Van Gundy had a 248-172 record as Knicks head coach with a 37-32 postseason record. He guided the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals, in which New York fell to the Spurs in five games. He was a Knicks assistant coach from the 1989-90 season until he was promoted to replace Don Nelson late in the 1995-96 season. He was on Pat Riley's staff in the 1994 Finals when the Rockets defeated the Knicks for their first championship. --

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