Tarkanian Reportedly Was Offered Job With Clippers but Turned It Down

Clipper President Alan Rothenberg said earlier this week that Don Chaney, who coached the team on an interim basis for the last 21 games, probably would be hired as coach sometime next week.

But Chaney might not have been the Clippers’ first choice for the job.

Sidney Green, forward for the Chicago Bulls, was quoted in Friday’s Chicago Sun-Times as saying that Jerry Tarkanian of Nevada Las Vegas had been offered the Clipper job nearly a month ago.

According to Green and other sources around the NBA, Tarkanian turned down the Clipper offer because it wasn’t enough money.

“I heard it from Rodney McCray (of the Houston Rockets), and I called (Tarkanian) the next day,” said Green, who played for Tarkanian at Nevada Las Vegas. “I left a message and he called me back and we talked about it. Tark said they (the Clippers) would have to come up with something that would top his life style in Las Vegas. He and his family are being taken care of very well there.”

Rothenberg said Friday that the story was “absolutely untrue.” It was widely known, however, that the Clippers were considering Tarkanian.

“I don’t understand where these things start,” Rothenberg said. “I don’t care what anyone said, it’s not true. I don’t think it’s fair to anyone involved to comment about who we have considered for the job.”

Rothenberg said the Clippers will stick to their timetable and probably make an announcement next week. He said that he, owner Donald T. Sterling and General Manager Carl Scheer are still leaning toward hiring Chaney.