Dec 29, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

ESPN and the Charlotte Observer reported earlier that the Charlotte Bobcats have slimmed their coaching search down to three candidates: Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder.

Shaw, currently an assistant with Indiana (formerly with the Lakers) and Snyder, currently an assistant with the Lakers (formerly head coach of Missouri and in the D-League) will be interviewed for a second time, so they have a chance to interract with Michael Jordan. Sloan already had that opportunity, because Jordan was part of a Bobcats team that interviewed him in Salt Lake City, Utah when he was first interviewed.

Bobcats beat writer Rick Bonnell did a solid job explaining what Shaw and Snyder would bring to the table:

“If Shaw gets the job, he’d likely install the Triangle offense he learned while playing and coaching for Phil Jackson… Snyder… is a bit of a wild card in this process, as he’s not currently lead assistant with the Lakers. However, he’s a high-intellect guy who’s known to be an innovator offensively.”

If Sloan is willing to commit for more than a few years, he’s got to be the guy Charlotte goes with here. He’ll bring instant credibility to a franchise which basically has none right now. He worked with one of the greatest point guards ever and one of the best big men ever in John Stockton and Karl Malone, and before he left the Jazz, he was the longest tenured coach in the NBA.

With Shaw and Snyder getting a second round of interviews, I think it’s their job to win Sloan’s to lose.