DALLAS -- Houston Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson told ESPN.com on Sunday that the club has secured permission from the New York Knicks to interview Jeff Van Gundy for its coaching vacancy.

Rockets lifer Rudy Tomjanovich resigned Friday, citing health reasons, and speculation immediately focused on Van Gundy as a leading candidate to replace him.

Dawson, in attendance at Sunday's Game 4 of the Western Conference finals along with Rockets owner Les Alexander, said at halftime that he hasn't yet spoken to Van Gundy, who worked the game for TNT as a courtside analyst. Van Gundy is under contract with the Knicks through July 31.

Mike Dunleavy, another prospective Rockets candidate, was also at American Airlines Center as a spectator. Considered a strong possibility to coach in Atlanta or with the L.A. Clippers next season -- and still potentially a candidate in Cleveland if the Cavaliers can't land Van Gundy or Paul Silas -- Dunleavy lives in nearby Fort Worth.

Dawson, however, said he and Alexander were just starting to formulate their "game plan" with respect to an interview timetable.

"It's more important to hire the right person," Dawson said, "than to hurry."

Larry Brown is another veteran coach who is known to intrigue Alexander, and there's a chance Brown could become an available coach this week. Brown is scheduled to meet with 76ers chairman Ed Snider later this week to clarify his future with the club, after Brown and Snider both hinted recently that it might be time for a coaching change after Brown's six seasons in Philadelphia -- the longest tenure of his career.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.