Pelicans granted OK to interview Warriors' Alvin Gentry

The New Orleans Pelicans have been granted permission to interview Golden State Warriors assistant coach Alvin Gentry for their coaching vacancy, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Gentry has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the position, along withChicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who is widely expected to part company with the Bulls this offseason.

ESPN.com reported last week after the Bulls' second-round elimination against Cleveland that there is mutual interest between Thibodeau and the Pelicans in discussing the job that was vacated when Monty Williams was fired earlier this month.

Thibodeau, though, is under contract with the Bulls for the next two years at nearly $9 million.

Although it widely believed throughout the league that both sides are eager to part company after five successful but rocky years together, the Bulls and Thibodeau are still operating as though he is Chicago's coach.

Gentry, meanwhile, is one of the hottest names on the coaching market after his contributions -- mostly on the offensive end -- to the Warriors' 67-win regular season.

The Warriors' offense under highly successful first-year coach Steve Kerr is often described as a blend of the principles Gregg Popovich relies on in San Antonio and sets Gentry used during his successful tenure in Phoenix.

The Warriors, when asked about Gentry, declined comment Monday.

It was not immediately clear how soon the interview will take place, with the Warriors in the midst of a playoff run that pits them against the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night.