3 candidates to coach the Bucks

With the Milwaukee Bucks delivering Jason Kidd his walking papers Monday, one of the more appealing NBA head coaching gigs is now vacant. Assistant coach Joe Prunty has taken the reins in the interim, while there's been no indication yet of the team's plans for the role.

In the meantime, here are three names who could be considered for the job:

David Fizdale

Hiring Fizdale would put to bed the whispers about the 43-year-old possibly reuniting with LeBron James (whom he coached as an assistant in Miami) either in Cleveland or with the Lakers. Fizdale is respected around the league as a players' coach, and he was able to modify the Memphis Grizzlies' dated culture last season before being controversially fired in November.

Milwaukee is not Fizdale's glitzy hometown of Los Angeles, but take this for data: The Bucks have the player of tomorrow in Giannis Antetokounmpo locked up until 2021, solid young complements and/or assets, and a new arena opening next season. In other words, it could be a coach's dream job.

Jeff Van Gundy

When Van Gundy was named head coach of Team USA for the qualifying cycle last summer, some saw the coach-turned-broadcaster setting himself up for a return to the NBA.

JVG hasn't coached in the Association for 11 years, but his teams in Houston and New York consistently ranked in the upper third of the league defensively. After Kidd failed to fully take advantage of Antetokounmpo's and Khris Middleton's length on that end of the court, Van Gundy could be a great match.

And if Jon Gruden can walk back into pro coaching after a decade in broadcasting, why not?

Monty Williams

Not long after news of Kidd's firing leaked out, USA TODAY's Sam Amick said he expected Williams' name to emerge as a candidate in Milwaukee. Williams hasn't been a head coach since being fired by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015, but he's still highly regarded around the league and is currently working as the vice president of basketball operations in San Antonio.

Williams was often criticized while coaching the Pelicans, but he did a fine job with a roster that was transitioning from the Chris Paul era to the Anthony Davis era. It was also reported last spring that Williams still had eyes on an eventual NBA head coaching job despite interest from the college ranks.