The Los Angeles Clippers' conversations with top coaching choice, Jeff Van Gundy, have failed to materialize into him becoming a serious candidate for the job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

As superstar guard Chris Paul prepares for free agency, the Clippers have been bidding to lure a high-profile coach to replace Vinny Del Negro.

Van Gundy and Clippers officials did talk more than once about the possibility of the job, but discussions have become dormant, sources said. After spending the past five years as a top TV analyst, Van Gundy has become more open to a return to coaching and has been the subject of several overtures over the past few years.

Van Gundy reached the playoffs nine times as coach of the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 1999. Van Gundy won 50-plus games twice in four seasons with the Rockets.

Van Gundy has started to spawn a head-coaching tree in the NBA that includes Chicago's Tom Thibodeau and Charlotte's Steve Clifford.

Denver coach George Karl remains a possible candidate for the Clippers, along with Memphis' Lionel Hollins, Byron Scott and Alvin Gentry.

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