- 16,283
- 17,225
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2019
No. The joke's on you
**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
- Start date
darthska
Staff member
- 46,191
- 30,320
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
Because to you, all a team needs is Timmy, Kobe, Bird, Jordan, Magic, Shaq, Steph, Bron, Kareem. That's it.
The rest of the team is simply 'Oh those guys.'
You can't FATHOM a tier to role players. That's too...
... gray.
Engine, transmission, go vroom. The end.
And yet, no, it's not. It's not that Horry just magically picked the future champion 5 times (first 2, he was drafted). It's not that McGee just magically picked. They help.
-foe
I literally posted tiers two pages back......
"You can't possibly fathom role player tiers"
"Gray area"
*Posted a day ago without bein asked*
- 18,697
- 13,031
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2006
Lavine 
- 39,256
- 42,612
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
This Javale thing is just crazy.
He was good for our team when he was here.
He has been good for the Dubs and now the Suns.
Javale might not be an impact player.
But he isn't a Kawme. He isn't the 15th guy off the bench.
He has a role and plays very well in that role. He doesn't complain when he doesn't play and continues to support his team.
That really should be the end of the conversation....
But.......
He was good for our team when he was here.
He has been good for the Dubs and now the Suns.
Javale might not be an impact player.
But he isn't a Kawme. He isn't the 15th guy off the bench.
He has a role and plays very well in that role. He doesn't complain when he doesn't play and continues to support his team.
That really should be the end of the conversation....
But.......
- 11,369
- 12,522
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2012
Cmon man.Yep.
All he had to do was start games, play 15 minutes and then DNP in the Finals.
Sound familiar? It should.
I know you have to dig into any argument you get into... But Kwame was a trash basketball player for us.
He woulda been a net negative for us the whole time.
darthska
Staff member
- 46,191
- 30,320
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
"He isn't 15th. That should be the end of the conversation."
"Totally 100% agree! He's 12th."
-foe
"Totally 100% agree! He's 12th."
-foe
I'm somehow confused why you guys think I'm hyping Kwame. I literally said the man could DNP the Finals and take pictures with the trophy afterwards. Not really a ringing endorsement of the man.
Could Kwame win a ring on a team with Durant, Steph, Klay, Dray, (all in their primes) + Iggy while playin 9 minutes a night? Yes, he could do that too.
That's not a prop of Kwame fellas. Not even a lil.
darthska
Staff member
- 46,191
- 30,320
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
Hypothetically? I could see it. I can't say that he definitely could because it's a hypothetical. You know what isn't a hypothetical? Him being on an Olympic team. So while we can surmise that he could have won a ring on that stacked Warriors roster, if we then ask the question "Could he have won a championship with them and also went right into the Olympics and contributed to a gold medal?", it's not a hypothetical that the answer is no. The answer is literally no.
However the tiers need to be structured so that Javelle is below Shaq and Kareem but above freaking Kwame Brown, that's how the tiers need to be structured.
-foe
- 39,256
- 42,612
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
Kwame would never be near a team like the dubs....
Javale was. That's the difference.
Javale got to a point in his career where championship teams wanted him to play a role on their team.
Kwame just had to get out of the NBA and ASAP.
Javale was. That's the difference.
Javale got to a point in his career where championship teams wanted him to play a role on their team.
Kwame just had to get out of the NBA and ASAP.
darthska
Staff member
- 46,191
- 30,320
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
"Well yeah, every team needs a mascot, a few warm bodies, someone to order room service for the important guys. Someone gotta carry Steph's bags, amirite? They won't carry themselves! Javele was that, absolutely. I get that" in 3... 2...
-foe
I agree. The Warriors needed a big on a minimum salary and he was available. Same with us. I haven't argued that at all.
- 3,230
- 1,390
- Joined
- May 8, 2013
Wasn't the only reason why Kwame lasted so long in the league was because he was a decent post defender?
- 7,503
- 10,413
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2012
Laker offseasons are the worst
LMAO 2022 and there's an ongoing conversation about Kwame Brown
LMAO 2022 and there's an ongoing conversation about Kwame Brown
- 91,087
- 125,030
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
NBA coaching prospects: Here are the top names league insiders are extolling behind the scenes
Forunately for the NBA's head coaches, 2021-22 was a season of relative contentment. The league has seen just two firings, Frank Vogel by the Los Angeles Lakers and James Borrego by the Charlotte Hornets, while the Sacramento Kings parted ways with interim head coach Alvin Gentry on April 11. The teams at the bottom of the standings have adopted patience, and the successful teams are, well, successful.
Hiring a coach is still a task that many lead front-office executives consider their most important decision. Each season we talk to dozens of league insiders -- current head coaches and assistant coaches, front-office executives, current and former players, as well as agents who represent coaches. We ask them about the state of the head-coaching profession, and who might be some candidates -- both well-known and under the radar -- who have the attributes to handle the job.
In past years, we've identified some first-time prospects early: Steve Kerr in 2013; Quin Snyder in 2014; Ty Lue and Ime Udoka in 2015; Nick Nurse, Chris Finch and Stephen Silas in 2016; Taylor Jenkins in 2018; Wes Unseld Jr., Mark Daigneault and Jamahl Mosley in 2020; and Willie Green and Chauncey Billups last year.
The nature of the job is ever-changing, as are the trends that inform those hires. Of the eight head coaches hired since the end of last season (including Nate McMillan, who had his interim status converted to long term), six played in the NBA. The other two are Wes Unseld Jr. (son of the Hall of Fame player and coach) and Jamahl Mosley (collegiate player who hooped professionally overseas). Front offices increasingly believe relatability is a necessary ingredient. A former player who holds the command and respect of players and who didn't toil in the video room for five seasons can always, if need be, draw on the counsel of a tactician on his staff for creative new ways to defend the pick-and-roll.
Several coaches also mentioned that the dynamic among coaches on their staff is a key to success. With the head coach saddled with more and more managerial responsibilities, much of the day-to-day work of coaching falls to assistants. Whether they're coordinating the offense and defense, working and communicating with players, and effectively running player development programs, roles must be delineated. Much of that solidarity is achieved through interactions with families and time spent discussing life outside of basketball. The job is a grind -- the more it can be infused with a human touch, the better the time spent. A dictum originating with the San Antonio Spurs years ago -- "breaking bread"-- is now known throughout the league as a vital team-building exercise when players, coaches and staff gather to share.
The most predominant trend of late -- and the word you'll hear exponentially more than you heard five to 10 years ago -- is "alignment." As one head of basketball operations for an NBA team puts it, the head coach is the most important person in his life apart from spouse and children. It's not a coincidence the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat each feature a front office and head coach who are smoothly aligned in approach. Organizational success has most often been found when those upstairs at the training facility connect with those on the practice court.
It's not always easy. A general manager might want the young 12th man to gain the experiences that will enable him to contribute when the team expects to contend in three years, while a head coach might not find that player useful in his rotation. When things get bumpy, self-preservation can rear its ugly head, with coach and exec each implicating the other for the team's failures. No front office and bench share an identical vision, but good organizations find a common path.
Agents and executives say that when teams compose their initial list of candidates for a vacancy, there's another consideration -- they want assistant coaches who work for winning organizations and elite head coaches. Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka are both alums of Spurs U, and Jenkins also has absorbed the teachings of the Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Budenholzer. New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green has been on the bench for four of the past five Finals.
Here are the coaches -- some well known, some under-the-radar -- whom NBA front offices are keeping close tabs on as they look for future hires.
Phoenix Suns staff
If it's alignment you're looking for, Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is a natural fit. Both the Suns' basketball ops crew and head coach Monty Williams regard Young as an essential hub to share ideas across the organization. It's a logical role for a young coach who excels at both listening and communicating. Young served as a head coach in the G League for six seasons, which gave him a foundation as an organizer and big-picture thinker. He has earned the respect of players with his work ethic and candor. He was a finalist for the Washington job last spring, where his sharpness impressed.
One to watch for the future: It's only a matter of time before we speak about a Williams coaching tree. Multiple sources who have worked with him in Minnesota and Phoenix believe Brian Randle, whose cadence and messaging resemble his boss, could be a branch on that tree. He has made a full swing through the NBA career fair -- video room in Minnesota, player development, and now generalist behind the bench for the Suns. An all-world defender who had a successful career in Israel, Randle has a keen understanding of that end of the floor. He knows how to scheme and, just as important, can communicate those schemes to the roster.
Milwaukee Bucks staff
Longtime Mike Budenholzer assistant Darvin Ham has little more to prove. He enjoyed a blue-collar eight-year NBA playing career, has contributed to a championship team, has absorbed the organizational prowess of his boss, has built meaningful relationships with players 1-through-15, and has a tactical flair. He brings versatility as a coach candidate -- one who can get the buy-in from a veteran team poised to contend, but also preside over a rebuilding effort focused on player development, where he also excels. Ham interviewed for the Minnesota and Washington (where he was a finalist) jobs in 2019, and the Clippers and Indiana jobs in 2020 (he was a finalist for the Pacers), and both the Lakers and Hornets have invited Ham for their current openings. With an older Lakers roster that's poised for the present, but might need to pivot to youth in the near future, and a Hornets squad building for the future, Ham would offer a voice that could meet both needs.
Another Bucks assistant, Charles Lee, has established himself as a multitool coach who projects confidence, emotional and tactical intelligence and affability. Colleagues marvel at his ability to relate to everyone, be it a two-way player (Lee played professionally overseas for four seasons) to an owner (he worked as a trader on Wall Street). A number of executives and coaches say that had Lee played one minute in the NBA (or had NBA bloodlines), he'd be gainfully employed as a head coach today. Such is the case in the NBA circa 2022, where owners and front offices increasingly favor those who have an NBA entry on Basketball Reference.
Memphis Grizzlies staff
People all over the coaching world, as well as players who have benefited from his grasp of the game, rave about Darko Rajakovic. That makes a lot of sense when you consider he has been poached twice -- Phoenix and Memphis -- over the past couple of years by incoming head coaches assembling a staff from scratch. A European head coach has yet to break through with a sustained career in the NBA, but Rajakovic (Serbia) has the intellect and passion for the craft that makes him the current morning-line favorite to become the first. The man has authored academic-journal style articles about the evolution of the pick-and-roll, but he's anything but academic in his warmth with players and fellow coaches.
Two to watch for the future: Another coach who did his undergraduate work at Spurs U, David McClure comes from a pathway of player development -- which is among his primary responsibilities on the Grizzlies' coaching staff -- but his portfolio has expanded considerably over the past two seasons. He has a prominent voice in instructing players on the nuances of the Grizzlies' coverage schemes, and he also performs much of the high-level game prep with a discerning eye. Sonia Raman joined the staff in Memphis after 12 years as the head coach of the MIT women's team. She has impressed the organization with her sharp eye and nuanced knowledge of the game. Her planning and management skills are precisely what the modern NBA head-coaching gig requires. If given the opportunity, she'd join Quin Snyder as the only NBA head coaches with a law degree.
Miami Heat staff
It's not a coincidence that so many of the Heat's assistant coaches over the years started in the team's player development program ... as players. Chris Quinn and Malik Allen serve as primary examples. Both were undrafted, hard-nosed NBA overachievers passionate to learn the pro game in the Heat's talent incubator. After their playing careers, they pursued their continuing education under Erik Spoelstra as coaches on the rise.
Longtime NBA coach Stan Van Gundy was the first to recognize that Allen was a natural-born coach for his sharp mind for the intricacies of the game. Being a head coach requires more than tactical scholarship, and Allen has grown into one of the most respected big-man coaches in the league. Over time, his portfolio in Miami has expanded. While the Heat don't have official coordinators, Allen has as commanding a voice as any over the team's fourth-ranked defense, and that voice communicates schemes with clarity. He honed his organizational chops as the head coach of the Heat's Summer League Team -- and it's difficult not to develop managerial expertise when you grow up as a coach under Spoelstra.
Quinn is a point guard's point guard who has excelled at every task en route to the lead assistant's chair in Miami. Ask Heat insiders who most embodies the team's culture, and Quinn is commonly the answer (one league source affectionately referred to Quinn as Spoelstra's "mini-me" for his temperament and organizational skills). He's an emotionally stable leader who inspires confidence in players, as revealed when he filled in for Spoelstra as head coach for a stint in March and April. Quinn received his first interview for a head-coach job with Indiana in 2020, while Washington gave him a look in 2021.
Golden State Warriors staff
The Warriors are a veteran shop with two former head coaches seated on either side of Steve Kerr on the bench. As associate head coach, Mike Brown has presided over the Warriors' defense for the past six seasons. He's frequently mentioned as a top plug-and-play option for any team that's looking for experience and structure. That would include the Sacramento Kings, who have made Brown a finalist in their search. With each passing day, the work of Kenny Atkinson laying down a cultural imprint during his three-plus seasons in Brooklyn looks more impressive. When Kerr wants to brainstorm about creative ideas and problem-solving, Atkinson is often his first conversation. While some dismiss "retreads" as stale, sometimes the best preparation for success as a head coach is the experience of non-success.
One to watch for the future: After eight seasons in various capacities with the Raptors, including a two-year stint as their G League head coach, Jama Mahlalela now directs player development for Golden State. The Dubs laud his motivational and managerial skills and admire his emotional intelligence and humility. With a couple more seasons, he'd be an apt choice to lead a rebuilding effort.
Boston Celtics staff
NBA head coaches don't just preside over rosters and playbooks; they manage a 12-month calendar of various contours and responsibilities. It's difficult to find anyone who has worked with Will Hardy in San Antonio and now Boston who doesn't believe Hardy, with his attention to detail and feel for the craft, is well-equipped to grapple with both the macro and micro components of that calendar. Hardy, who has interviewed with Oklahoma City, New York and Indiana in recent years, is a candidate for the current vacancy in Sacramento. He's also mentioned frequently among Spurs watchers as a possible successor to Gregg Popovich.
One to watch for the future: The reviews out of Boston on assistant coach Joe Mazzulla are outstanding, and more so with each passing season. A standout at West Virginia who guarded Kemba Walker in college, Mazzulla coached Division II Fairmont State before joining the Celtics' bench in 2019. Colleagues regard him as an elite communicator who will excel at navigating the emotions of a 15-man roster, and who has the force of personality to reach each player.
Others to watch from winning programs
Dawn Staley has turned the University of South Carolina's program into a juggernaut in women's basketball. Those in the NBA's inner circle who have met and observed her both on and off the court describe a coach with uncommon command and presence, and an acute knowledge of basketball that transcends any one sphere. Over the past 18 months, Staley, who interviewed for the Blazers job last summer, has become the most common response to the question, "Who is most likely to make history?"
The longtime Warriors bench assistant who now serves as Willie Green's lead assistant in New Orleans, Jarron Collins boasts the career, history and intellect front offices look for. Both the Hawks and Grizzlies looked closely at Collins, who loves to both teach and think the game. He was a perfect temperamental fit in Golden State and is a valued in-game tactician who can make decisions on the fly.
Speculation has swirled around Jay Wright -- ever since he stepped down a couple of weeks ago as Villanova's venerable head coach -- that he might have interest in an NBA gig. Multiple sources who profess an understanding of Wright's thinking say the 60-year-old coach is sincere about his desire to catch up on life outside of basketball. They also feel Wright's competitiveness could entice him in the future to dip his toe in NBA waters.
The Grizzlies turned heads when they brought Lithuanian coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius into their selective interview process in 2019, but it was no surprise to those in the NBA who keep a close eye on European coaching talent. Jasikevičius, who won a Euroleague MVP and four Euroleague championships as a player, has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling coaches on the world stage. He won the ACB title in his first season with Barcelona. Though he was offered a job on Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse's bench a few years ago, Jasikevičius has opted to stay in Europe, where he continued to hone his skills as a charismatic leader, and share his infectious love of the craft as a born coach.
Forunately for the NBA's head coaches, 2021-22 was a season of relative contentment. The league has seen just two firings, Frank Vogel by the Los Angeles Lakers and James Borrego by the Charlotte Hornets, while the Sacramento Kings parted ways with interim head coach Alvin Gentry on April 11. The teams at the bottom of the standings have adopted patience, and the successful teams are, well, successful.
Hiring a coach is still a task that many lead front-office executives consider their most important decision. Each season we talk to dozens of league insiders -- current head coaches and assistant coaches, front-office executives, current and former players, as well as agents who represent coaches. We ask them about the state of the head-coaching profession, and who might be some candidates -- both well-known and under the radar -- who have the attributes to handle the job.
In past years, we've identified some first-time prospects early: Steve Kerr in 2013; Quin Snyder in 2014; Ty Lue and Ime Udoka in 2015; Nick Nurse, Chris Finch and Stephen Silas in 2016; Taylor Jenkins in 2018; Wes Unseld Jr., Mark Daigneault and Jamahl Mosley in 2020; and Willie Green and Chauncey Billups last year.
The nature of the job is ever-changing, as are the trends that inform those hires. Of the eight head coaches hired since the end of last season (including Nate McMillan, who had his interim status converted to long term), six played in the NBA. The other two are Wes Unseld Jr. (son of the Hall of Fame player and coach) and Jamahl Mosley (collegiate player who hooped professionally overseas). Front offices increasingly believe relatability is a necessary ingredient. A former player who holds the command and respect of players and who didn't toil in the video room for five seasons can always, if need be, draw on the counsel of a tactician on his staff for creative new ways to defend the pick-and-roll.
Several coaches also mentioned that the dynamic among coaches on their staff is a key to success. With the head coach saddled with more and more managerial responsibilities, much of the day-to-day work of coaching falls to assistants. Whether they're coordinating the offense and defense, working and communicating with players, and effectively running player development programs, roles must be delineated. Much of that solidarity is achieved through interactions with families and time spent discussing life outside of basketball. The job is a grind -- the more it can be infused with a human touch, the better the time spent. A dictum originating with the San Antonio Spurs years ago -- "breaking bread"-- is now known throughout the league as a vital team-building exercise when players, coaches and staff gather to share.
The most predominant trend of late -- and the word you'll hear exponentially more than you heard five to 10 years ago -- is "alignment." As one head of basketball operations for an NBA team puts it, the head coach is the most important person in his life apart from spouse and children. It's not a coincidence the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat each feature a front office and head coach who are smoothly aligned in approach. Organizational success has most often been found when those upstairs at the training facility connect with those on the practice court.
It's not always easy. A general manager might want the young 12th man to gain the experiences that will enable him to contribute when the team expects to contend in three years, while a head coach might not find that player useful in his rotation. When things get bumpy, self-preservation can rear its ugly head, with coach and exec each implicating the other for the team's failures. No front office and bench share an identical vision, but good organizations find a common path.
Agents and executives say that when teams compose their initial list of candidates for a vacancy, there's another consideration -- they want assistant coaches who work for winning organizations and elite head coaches. Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka are both alums of Spurs U, and Jenkins also has absorbed the teachings of the Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Budenholzer. New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green has been on the bench for four of the past five Finals.
Here are the coaches -- some well known, some under-the-radar -- whom NBA front offices are keeping close tabs on as they look for future hires.
Phoenix Suns staff
If it's alignment you're looking for, Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is a natural fit. Both the Suns' basketball ops crew and head coach Monty Williams regard Young as an essential hub to share ideas across the organization. It's a logical role for a young coach who excels at both listening and communicating. Young served as a head coach in the G League for six seasons, which gave him a foundation as an organizer and big-picture thinker. He has earned the respect of players with his work ethic and candor. He was a finalist for the Washington job last spring, where his sharpness impressed.
One to watch for the future: It's only a matter of time before we speak about a Williams coaching tree. Multiple sources who have worked with him in Minnesota and Phoenix believe Brian Randle, whose cadence and messaging resemble his boss, could be a branch on that tree. He has made a full swing through the NBA career fair -- video room in Minnesota, player development, and now generalist behind the bench for the Suns. An all-world defender who had a successful career in Israel, Randle has a keen understanding of that end of the floor. He knows how to scheme and, just as important, can communicate those schemes to the roster.
Milwaukee Bucks staff
Longtime Mike Budenholzer assistant Darvin Ham has little more to prove. He enjoyed a blue-collar eight-year NBA playing career, has contributed to a championship team, has absorbed the organizational prowess of his boss, has built meaningful relationships with players 1-through-15, and has a tactical flair. He brings versatility as a coach candidate -- one who can get the buy-in from a veteran team poised to contend, but also preside over a rebuilding effort focused on player development, where he also excels. Ham interviewed for the Minnesota and Washington (where he was a finalist) jobs in 2019, and the Clippers and Indiana jobs in 2020 (he was a finalist for the Pacers), and both the Lakers and Hornets have invited Ham for their current openings. With an older Lakers roster that's poised for the present, but might need to pivot to youth in the near future, and a Hornets squad building for the future, Ham would offer a voice that could meet both needs.
Another Bucks assistant, Charles Lee, has established himself as a multitool coach who projects confidence, emotional and tactical intelligence and affability. Colleagues marvel at his ability to relate to everyone, be it a two-way player (Lee played professionally overseas for four seasons) to an owner (he worked as a trader on Wall Street). A number of executives and coaches say that had Lee played one minute in the NBA (or had NBA bloodlines), he'd be gainfully employed as a head coach today. Such is the case in the NBA circa 2022, where owners and front offices increasingly favor those who have an NBA entry on Basketball Reference.
Memphis Grizzlies staff
People all over the coaching world, as well as players who have benefited from his grasp of the game, rave about Darko Rajakovic. That makes a lot of sense when you consider he has been poached twice -- Phoenix and Memphis -- over the past couple of years by incoming head coaches assembling a staff from scratch. A European head coach has yet to break through with a sustained career in the NBA, but Rajakovic (Serbia) has the intellect and passion for the craft that makes him the current morning-line favorite to become the first. The man has authored academic-journal style articles about the evolution of the pick-and-roll, but he's anything but academic in his warmth with players and fellow coaches.
Two to watch for the future: Another coach who did his undergraduate work at Spurs U, David McClure comes from a pathway of player development -- which is among his primary responsibilities on the Grizzlies' coaching staff -- but his portfolio has expanded considerably over the past two seasons. He has a prominent voice in instructing players on the nuances of the Grizzlies' coverage schemes, and he also performs much of the high-level game prep with a discerning eye. Sonia Raman joined the staff in Memphis after 12 years as the head coach of the MIT women's team. She has impressed the organization with her sharp eye and nuanced knowledge of the game. Her planning and management skills are precisely what the modern NBA head-coaching gig requires. If given the opportunity, she'd join Quin Snyder as the only NBA head coaches with a law degree.
Miami Heat staff
It's not a coincidence that so many of the Heat's assistant coaches over the years started in the team's player development program ... as players. Chris Quinn and Malik Allen serve as primary examples. Both were undrafted, hard-nosed NBA overachievers passionate to learn the pro game in the Heat's talent incubator. After their playing careers, they pursued their continuing education under Erik Spoelstra as coaches on the rise.
Longtime NBA coach Stan Van Gundy was the first to recognize that Allen was a natural-born coach for his sharp mind for the intricacies of the game. Being a head coach requires more than tactical scholarship, and Allen has grown into one of the most respected big-man coaches in the league. Over time, his portfolio in Miami has expanded. While the Heat don't have official coordinators, Allen has as commanding a voice as any over the team's fourth-ranked defense, and that voice communicates schemes with clarity. He honed his organizational chops as the head coach of the Heat's Summer League Team -- and it's difficult not to develop managerial expertise when you grow up as a coach under Spoelstra.
Quinn is a point guard's point guard who has excelled at every task en route to the lead assistant's chair in Miami. Ask Heat insiders who most embodies the team's culture, and Quinn is commonly the answer (one league source affectionately referred to Quinn as Spoelstra's "mini-me" for his temperament and organizational skills). He's an emotionally stable leader who inspires confidence in players, as revealed when he filled in for Spoelstra as head coach for a stint in March and April. Quinn received his first interview for a head-coach job with Indiana in 2020, while Washington gave him a look in 2021.
Golden State Warriors staff
The Warriors are a veteran shop with two former head coaches seated on either side of Steve Kerr on the bench. As associate head coach, Mike Brown has presided over the Warriors' defense for the past six seasons. He's frequently mentioned as a top plug-and-play option for any team that's looking for experience and structure. That would include the Sacramento Kings, who have made Brown a finalist in their search. With each passing day, the work of Kenny Atkinson laying down a cultural imprint during his three-plus seasons in Brooklyn looks more impressive. When Kerr wants to brainstorm about creative ideas and problem-solving, Atkinson is often his first conversation. While some dismiss "retreads" as stale, sometimes the best preparation for success as a head coach is the experience of non-success.
One to watch for the future: After eight seasons in various capacities with the Raptors, including a two-year stint as their G League head coach, Jama Mahlalela now directs player development for Golden State. The Dubs laud his motivational and managerial skills and admire his emotional intelligence and humility. With a couple more seasons, he'd be an apt choice to lead a rebuilding effort.
Boston Celtics staff
NBA head coaches don't just preside over rosters and playbooks; they manage a 12-month calendar of various contours and responsibilities. It's difficult to find anyone who has worked with Will Hardy in San Antonio and now Boston who doesn't believe Hardy, with his attention to detail and feel for the craft, is well-equipped to grapple with both the macro and micro components of that calendar. Hardy, who has interviewed with Oklahoma City, New York and Indiana in recent years, is a candidate for the current vacancy in Sacramento. He's also mentioned frequently among Spurs watchers as a possible successor to Gregg Popovich.
One to watch for the future: The reviews out of Boston on assistant coach Joe Mazzulla are outstanding, and more so with each passing season. A standout at West Virginia who guarded Kemba Walker in college, Mazzulla coached Division II Fairmont State before joining the Celtics' bench in 2019. Colleagues regard him as an elite communicator who will excel at navigating the emotions of a 15-man roster, and who has the force of personality to reach each player.
Others to watch from winning programs
Dawn Staley has turned the University of South Carolina's program into a juggernaut in women's basketball. Those in the NBA's inner circle who have met and observed her both on and off the court describe a coach with uncommon command and presence, and an acute knowledge of basketball that transcends any one sphere. Over the past 18 months, Staley, who interviewed for the Blazers job last summer, has become the most common response to the question, "Who is most likely to make history?"
The longtime Warriors bench assistant who now serves as Willie Green's lead assistant in New Orleans, Jarron Collins boasts the career, history and intellect front offices look for. Both the Hawks and Grizzlies looked closely at Collins, who loves to both teach and think the game. He was a perfect temperamental fit in Golden State and is a valued in-game tactician who can make decisions on the fly.
Speculation has swirled around Jay Wright -- ever since he stepped down a couple of weeks ago as Villanova's venerable head coach -- that he might have interest in an NBA gig. Multiple sources who profess an understanding of Wright's thinking say the 60-year-old coach is sincere about his desire to catch up on life outside of basketball. They also feel Wright's competitiveness could entice him in the future to dip his toe in NBA waters.
The Grizzlies turned heads when they brought Lithuanian coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius into their selective interview process in 2019, but it was no surprise to those in the NBA who keep a close eye on European coaching talent. Jasikevičius, who won a Euroleague MVP and four Euroleague championships as a player, has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling coaches on the world stage. He won the ACB title in his first season with Barcelona. Though he was offered a job on Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse's bench a few years ago, Jasikevičius has opted to stay in Europe, where he continued to hone his skills as a charismatic leader, and share his infectious love of the craft as a born coach.
- 91,087
- 125,030
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 91,087
- 125,030
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- 39,152
- 40,432
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2013
jeanie and co still giving out 2 year deals
- 7,503
- 10,413
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2012
I’m on board w/ Ham
Don’t think they need to rush things, it’s only the first week of May.
And it’s one thing to ask Phil to put together an NBA roster, but I don’t see a problem asking for his input on a coaching search… we don’t even know to what extent he’s involved. Big nothing burger if you ask me
Don’t think they need to rush things, it’s only the first week of May.
And it’s one thing to ask Phil to put together an NBA roster, but I don’t see a problem asking for his input on a coaching search… we don’t even know to what extent he’s involved. Big nothing burger if you ask me
- 8,287
- 7,988
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2011
darthska
Staff member
- 46,191
- 30,320
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
I really wish I could. *jealous*
-foe
-foe
- 8,287
- 7,988
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2011
We sign darvin ham as our head coach, next season gonna be a media circus. Even if he is competent, they gonna crucify him for everything! The criticism will be worse than Frank. At least frank had got us a ring.
IS DARVIN HAM BUILT FOR LA MEDIA?
I’m not willing to take that gamble on a head coach.
Do not do this.
IS DARVIN HAM BUILT FOR LA MEDIA?
I’m not willing to take that gamble on a head coach.
Do not do this.
- 18,697
- 13,031
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2006
I’m good with Ham. He’s paid dues and is ready, hopefully he can be a long term coach for the rebuild era too. I’m sick of the coaching carousel every 3 years
Don’t count out Stotts and Clifford
Don’t count out Stotts and Clifford
