NBA: Nuggets George Karl on one list for Clippers' new coach

The Los Angeles Clippers are beginning a coaching search, and guess whose name has popped up as a possible candidate. Yes, the Nuggets' George Karl, who is under contract for next season but is on the Clippers' list, according to ESPNLA.com.

Karl won 57 games this season and took the NBA's coach of the year honors, but also trusted the leadership of Masai Ujiri, who left the team last week to become the general manager of the Toronto Raptors. Calls and messages left for Karl on Sunday were not returned.

A source said Sunday that the Clippers have not yet asked for official permission to interview Karl.

The Clippers are looking to replace Vinny Del Negro with former Cleveland coach Byron Scott (an L.A. native), former NBA coach and current ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, former Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry (also a former Clippers coach) or Karl, according to the site.

Karl has often said he wishes to end his coaching career in Denver, where his young team exceeded expectations in the past regular season but lost in the first round to the Golden State Warriors.

The Nuggets are preparing their own search, for a general manager. It's possible, though, that Denver will promote from within, potentially Ujiri's former right-hand man, Pete D'Alessandro.