What began as three-man derby in the Sonics' coaching search appears to be narrowing to a two-man race as one-time front-runner Rick Carlisle continues to deny interest in the position while San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey are privately staking claims for the job.

Casey and Carlesimo were finalists in Minnesota two years ago when the Timberwolves gave Casey his first head-coaching job.

This time, however, Carlesimo appears to have the advantage because of his ties to San Antonio, where new Sonics general manager Sam Presti had been an assistant GM. Owner Clay Bennett, a part-owner with the Spurs in the mid-1990s, is also a fan of San Antonio, which won its fourth NBA title last week.