Westphal joins Eddie Jordanas the first two candidates to be interviewed, and the former Phoenix and Seattle head coach is relevant beyond the obvious. While Jordan appears to be in a class all his ownin this race, there are signs from his camp that he would strongly consider the Philadelphia job if it becomes open.

The 76ers are reportedly deliberating their situation this week, with the possibility existing that interim coach Tony DiLeo could move back to a front office post. On the surface, every coach I've spoken with sees the Sixers' situation as more appealing on almost every front. What's more, the possibility of a bidding war wouldn't likely go well for the Kings considering the Maloofs' desire to keep costs of all kinds down.

If that is the case and the Kings eventually lost out on Jordan's services, Westphal's stock rises and he could have a stronger standing in his attempt to be a head coachfor the first time since 2000. Since leaving the Sonics that year, Westphal was the coach at Pepperdine from 2001 until 2006 before and is currently Dallas' executive vice president of Basketball operations.

So long as Petrie is dictating the direction of the coaching search as Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said he would, it bodes well for Westphal that he is the second name to be officially acknowledged. Jordan has not yet been interviewed, but both are expected to be seen before Petrie leaves for Spain after this week. - Sam Amick

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