Jeff Van Gundy was a multi-tasking man on the move Tuesday morning. While huffing and puffing his way through his Westchester County neighborhood during a brisk five-mile walk, the former Rochesterian conducted interviews on his cell phone. He was a step ahead of questions about his NBA coaching future. Trying to pin him down proved to be an exercise in futility.

?It?s not what it?s been made out to be,? insisted Van Gundy of the stories that he recently turned down the New Orleans job and is now being mentioned as the top candidate for the Cleveland Cadavers vacancy. ?I think the talk you?ve read about and heard is premature.?

The former point guard from Brockport High and Nazareth College was being coy, and that?s understandable. The third-winningest coach in Knicks history would be foolish not to play the field, and look for the best job possible.

?I just don?t think it?s appropriate to discuss these things,? said Van Gundy, who will provide color commentary on TNT?s telecast of tonight?s Philadelphia-Detroit NBA playoff game. ?If someone else wants to talk about it, that?s their choice. All I?m going to say is there hasn?t been this great rush to hire Jeff Van Gundy.?