The Boston Celtics have reportedly been granted permission by the Los Angeles Clippers to speak to assistant coach Jay Larranaga, a nine-season veteran of the Celtics bench. Boston reportedly sought permission to speak with about assisting interim Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla in the wake of head coach Ime Udoka’s season-long suspension.
The news, reported by the LA Times’ Andrew Greif, signals at least a passing interest from Larranaga in returning to the team he left after the Udoka hire ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. With Mazzulla tasked with directing a championship-caliber squad with no head coaching experience due to extenuating circumstances, there had been speculation Boston might add to Mazzulla’s bench.
Larranaga, who, like Mazzulla, has been a popular name in head coaching searches in recent years, also has no experience in the top job at the NBA level, but would help fill in the gaps left by not only Udoka’s castigation but also the loss of top assistant Will Hardy to the Utah Jazz earlier in the season.
Woj: Celtics seeking permission to talk to LAC’s Jay Larranaga. https://t.co/X0UrSrNWVZ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 28, 2022
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