Now that Larry Brown is gone, who will be the next coach of the 76ers? Here are some of the potential candidates.

Maurice Cheeks. The Portland Trail Blazers coach played on the 76ers championship team in 1983 and was an assistant under Brown.

However, he has a year left on his contract, and "even talking about him could be tampering," said 76ers team chairman Ed Snider. He would be the No. 1 choice if available.

Jeff Van Gundy. The former coach of the Knicks is under contract with the Knicks until July 31, but they will not prevent him from talking to prospective teams. The Cavaliers, Raptors and Hornets have already been given permission to contact Van Gundy. Van Gundy is in Texas this week to work the Western Conference finals for TNT.

On March 8, 1996, 59 games into the 1995-96 season, Van Gundy replaced Don Nelson. Sixers general manager Billy King said the Sixers would like a defensive coach, and Van Gundy fits that bill.

Paul Silas. The Cavaliers met two weeks ago with Silas, fired by the Hornets after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the 76ers. He is also a candidate in Houston.

Silas completed his fifth season as the Hornets' head coach this season and led them to their fourth straight playoff appearance. Under Silas in 2000-01, the Hornets advanced further into the playoffs than any other team in franchise history, falling just one game short of the Eastern Conference finals.

He is known as a players' coach who might have the temperament to deal with Allen Iverson.