Sixers to interview Mike Malone, Jeff Hornacek for coaching vacancy

The Philadelphia 76ers have received permission to interview Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Malone and Utah Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek for the franchise's head-coaching vacancy, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Malone is considered a serious candidate for the Sixers job. The Sixers have been doing a great deal of research on Malone and getting excellent feedback, sources said.

Malone has been a top assistant under Mark Jackson (Golden State), Monty Williams (New Orleans) and Mike Brown (Cleveland). Over the past two years with the Warriors, he's been the NBA's top-paid assistant coach.

The Warriors are engaged in a Western Conference playoff series with Denver, leading 3-2. It's possible Sixers officials could meet with Malone on a day off during the Warriors' playoff run, but that hasn't yet been determined.

Hornacek played two seasons (1992-94) with the Sixers in his 14-year NBA playing career. He's been an assistant with the Jazz for two seasons now. He could be considered a candidate with the Phoenix Suns, where he played the first six years of his NBA career and still keeps a home. Phoenix won't start its coaching search until it hires a general manager.

The Sixers are also strongly considering Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, and closely monitoring the contract talks of Lionel Hollins and the Memphis Grizzlies. Hollins could be a free agent at season's end.