For Team, For Monetary Bonus, Van Gundy Needs Wins

After losing Game 3, however, the likelihood of Stan collecting the mil is not good. Tim Potvak reports: “Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy stands to make an incentive bonus worth close to $1 million if he can pull his team from an [0-3] deficit and rebound to win the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics.The bonus is part of the contract extension he signed last summer, which carries him through the 2010-11 season. According to two NBA sources familiar with league contracts, Van Gundy’s contract is filled with incentives that pay him based on how far the Magic advance in the playoffs. When the Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern finals and advanced to the NBA Finals a year ago, he made $1 million, in addition to his base salary, estimated at $4 million annually. The incentive-based contracts are common among NBA head coaches, yet the amounts paid fluctuate. Celtics coach Doc Rivers, whose base salary is $5.5 million, also would receive a sizable bonus if his team advances to the NBA Finals, but his incentive to reach the Finals is less than Van Gundy’s.”