Notebook | Suns' list for coach down to 4 names

PHOENIX — The search for a replacement for Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni apparently is down to four candidates.

While Suns general manager Steve Kerr didn't call them finalists, he praised the four individually and said all remained under consideration.

The last of the group, San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, was interviewed Tuesday, one day after Detroit Pistons assistant Terry Porter had his second interview for the job. Two other assistant coaches, Elston Turner of Houston and Tyrone Corbin of Utah, also have had second interviews.

"We're getting a lot closer," Kerr told reporters Wednesday. "Our interview process is probably completed. There may be a few more phone conversations. But we're really pleased with the candidates that we've put together."

Kerr indicated that Flip Saunders, fired as Pistons' head coach Tuesday, will not be added to the mix.

"We're pretty far in our process," Kerr said. "I have a lot of respect for him, but I also think the process we've undertaken is a good one. We feel really good about it. I don't feel like changing course altogether and doing something that's just totally out of the blue."

The methodical search for D'Antoni's replacement might come to an end next week.

Another Pistons assistant, Michael Curry, is considered the leading candidate to replace Saunders in Detroit, with Porter a potential alternative.

Walton's pick

Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton has not yet heard from his father — ESPN analyst, Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bill Walton — regarding the NBA Finals. According to a reporter, the elder Walton has picked the Celtics to win the Finals.

"If that's who he's picking, that's who he's picking," Luke Walton said. "As long as he's rooting for me, it's all good. Hopefully, he'll be a jinx for the Celtics."

Bill Walton played for the Celtics from 1985-87 and took his children to most of the Celtics home games.

After wins they'd join him in the locker room "and terrorize all the players," Luke Walton said. "There were four of us running around, so we were getting into a lot of trouble."

As for his father's choice of Boston, Walton said that's nothing new. "He used to do the same thing when UCLA played Arizona," said Luke of their respective alma maters. "He used to pick UCLA to win, and I wouldn't say anything until we whipped up on them. Then I'd give him a call."

• New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott's two-year contract with the team became official Wednesday. The deal pays a base of about $5 million a year, with incentives that could push it above $6 million annually.

• Former Rainier Beach forward C.J. Giles, who was kicked out of Kansas and Oregon State University, worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the first of eight workouts he's scheduled in advance of the NBA draft.

• New Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown worked out six college players in a pre-draft session, his first official act on the court since accepting his record ninth NBA head coaching job.

• Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver plans to have surgery to remove a bone spur on his left foot. He was scheduled for surgery Wednesday night in New York.