RealGM

The Brain Trust

The Cash Dollaz Front Man

Name: Frank Gores
Credentials: History of smart choices has made him a billionaire. Went to the finest University in the country.
Biggest Drawback: Bought his way into the brain trust.

The Zen Master

Name: Phil Jackson
Credentials: Winningest Head Coach Ever
Biggest Drawback: Hates Detroit and would love nothing more than to watch the Pistons suffer.

The Recently Cuckolded

Name: Joe Dumars
Credentials: Larrick Browlisle
Biggest Drawback: Johnchael Keurry

The Candidates

The Alleged Frontrunner


Name: Nate McMillan
Age: 48
Record: 478-452 (.514)
Also served as Assistant Coach to 2006 USA FIBA team (Bronze), 2008 & 2012 USA Olympic teams (Gold)

The One Shrouded in Mystery

Name: Zelijko Obradovic
Age: 53
2x Euroleague Coach of the Year (2007, 2011)
50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors member
8x Euroleague Champion

The Legend's Protoge: Part 1

Name: Brian Shaw
Age: 47
Assistant Coach on many successful Lakers and Pacers teams.

The Legend's Protoge: Part 2

Name: Mike Budenholzer
Age: 42
16 years as Spurs' assistant. Last 5 as top assistant.

Redeemed "Get One Free Interview" Coupon

Name: Lindsey Hunter
Age: 42
Record: 12-29 (.293)
Played 12 Seasons with the Pistons.
Along with Allan Houston, comprised the Pistons backcourt of the future (circa teal)

Both Is and Is Not a Candidate

Name: Kelvin Sampson
Age: 57
Only wears blue shirts when he coaches.
Specializes in improper phone contact with recruits.

Other Names Bandied About:


Name: Lionel Hollins
Age: 59
Record: 214-201 (.516)


Name: Maurice Cheeks
Age: 56
Record: 284-286 (.498)


Name: Bill Laimbeer
Age: 55
3x WNBA Champion

Larry Brown

I'm thinking Hollins is going to be out in MEM. His contract is up and I think the Grizz are going to lose this series, which would make it 2 straight years losing in the 1st round. Hollins is probably going to want to get paid after winning 56 games, but knowing how cheap MEM is, are they really going to invest big longterm money in a coach who couldn't get them out of the 1st round 2 straight yrs? I say no. And if we come in offering more money, I think we can get Hollins.

He would be my 1st choice right now. yeah, he'd be coming off two early playoff exits... and that's the main reason I'm against McMillan because oif his 1st round failures....but I watched Hollins also outcoach Popovich and beat him soundly in the playoffs, so I know this guy can coach and win playoff basketball. After all, his system IS playoff basketball, and thats how they play every game all year, no matter reg season or not. Thats how we used to be under Carlisle and Brown. The teams that play playoff bball all year are the ones that are most successful in the playoffs. I think the Clippers are just a bad matchup for MEM and him losing 2 straight yrs to them in the 1st round does not mean he can't succeed in the playoffs.

McMillman though, I don't know what kind of system he coach's, and its not because I havent seen his teams play. I just don't have a clue what his teams' identity is? Those are the coach's we need to avoid. Frank after 2 yrs I still have no idea what system or style he was trying to play. Hollins' system is 100% clear. Great defense, rebounding, and halfcourt offense played through the post. All things that succeed in the playoffs, and all things our core is tailor made to succeed at. He would be a perfect fit. I want nothing to do with McMillan.

If we can't get Hollins, I'd go Sloan, then Larry Brown, then Laimbeer as a last resort if we can't get anyone experienced and have to settle for a 1st time coach.

I swear if Dumars gambles on another assistant and its not Laimbeer....

1. Hollins
2. Sloan
3. LB
4. Laimbeer

Sloan just turned 71. I respect him a lot, but im not sure how that'd work out.

*edit : THinking a bit more real fast, the age could actually work to change the coach carousel here. Keep him 2 years or so, and have his replacement be an assistant on his staff already set to go?

What about the Spurs assistant?

Or Budzholder (spelling?)

hollins isn't a very good coach at all. Do not want

We might as well give Laimbeer a shot and get it over with. His name has been poppin' up for over 10 years now.

The other Spurs assistant is Brett Brown

Ideally we would get a proven coach here and give him 3 years to mold a team... can't build a thing when you're changing players and coaches every 2 seasons, so I'd eliminate Bud, Brown, Lam immediately

You can also cross off Larry Brown and Phil Jackson, who we all doubt would seriously consider coaching our squad because we have very little talent outside Drummond and Monroe...

That leaves Hollins, Nate McMillan, Sloan and probably Avery Johnson..

Sloan and Johnson were run out of their last jobs by Deron Williams... and we have no one with that kind of clout on our roster... and they wouldn't approve of Joe signing a spoilt player which is a good thing

Hollins is currently still coaching his team, so he has creditials that you can actually sell, even if they get eliminated in the first round again. Think about it: what other candidate has made the playoffs the last 2 seasons?

McMillan? Loved and respected him when he played (I'm that old!) and Portland did make the playoffs when he was there... before everything fell apart. What part he played in the place falling apart is up for debate - no one knows the real story of what goes on behind the scenes, we only get what the media wants to report and it's skewed one way or another IMO

I also wonder if he's waiting for the Sacramento/Seattle thing to get settled though... if the team moves to Seattle he'd be a logical choice as Coach that they could sell to the fanbase...

They said on espn memphis wants Hollins back, but ppl think he may not want to come back. Great opportunity for gores to come in with a big contract offer and lure him here

I also think Hollins would be great. Memphis is similar to what we are building into, and Hollins also seems to be a point guard focused coach.

Laimbeer would probably rejuvenate attendance. Old legend, well liked, interesting personality. I'm sure coaching the WNBA helped, so I think he may be prepared enough. He can probably communicate with players better than most NBA coaches given he can relate to them and seems to be a good analyst/communicator based on his commentating days. He could also benefit from not feeling the pressure normal coaches feel, as he has the credibility of being a former good player and doesn't need to worry about public opinion. If he were hired he should have some good quality assistants to be safe. I would go for him if there were no proven excellent coach like Hollins available, since every coaching hire is a risk and he has unique benefits. I'd go for him over an assistant coach like the one from SA, unless that assistant has good qualities besides just assisting a successful system.

Hollins would be ideal. He is hard-nosed, defense-first, and plays traditional inside-out basketball which is exactly what we are trying to do with Monroe and Dre. Other guys I would like are Avery Johnson and Isaiah Thomas.

There is 0% chance that Laimbeer gets the job so you should just cross him off now. It's been reported that they didn't like him the first time he interviewed and he is also a very unproven coach in the NBA which is a risk Dumars cannot afford to take.

I like the Spurs assistants... obviously more research would be needed to determine how well they develop players... but this is a proven winning system... they should have a thorough understanding of designing plays and opponents tendencies... ya think Monroe could benefit from Duncan's coaches?

mercury wrote:I like the Spurs assistants... obviously more research would be needed to determine how well they develop players... but this is a proven winning system... they should have a thorough understanding of designing plays and opponents tendencies... ya think Monroe could benefit from Duncan's coaches?

They are unproven head coaches though. I don't think Dumars can risk hiring an assistant.

1. Brian Shaw - Still young, Players like him. Still want a snag a coach who could be here for 7+ years. He fits the bill
2. Stan Van - Still like him. Relatively young. Coached Dwight.
3. Mike Budeholzer - Spurs assistant. Enough said. Only 42 years old.
4. Hollins - I like the way the Grizzlies play and I think Dre and Moose have potential to be > Gasol/ZBo

I'd be happy with any of these 4.

Mike Brown was a Spurs assistant. Are there any others from there who became head coaches?

qm22 wrote:Mike Brown was a Spurs assistant. Are there any others from there who became head coaches?

Thibs, Karl, Carlisimo, Vaughn

I don't know of Hollins is a sure thing to be back in Memphis as Hollinger could look for a head coach believer in his approach. That being said, I don't think we could wait to find out or even if Hollins would be worth the wait for that matter.

ComboGuardCity wrote:

qm22 wrote:Mike Brown was a Spurs assistant. Are there any others from there who became head coaches?

Thibs, Karl, Carlisimo, Vaughn

Thibodeau and Karl never coached under Popovich. Carlisimo is nothing special, and Jacque Vaughn's team had the worst record in the league this year.

Truth is no Popovich assistant has ever gone on to be anything special. It seems to be just a myth.

I don't think an assistant is what this team needs anyways. It sounds good in theory to hire someone who is young enough to have a long career here with our young players, but we tried that our last 3 coach's, and all failed. Not sure why you want to try it a 4th time. We need to worry about finding someone who can suceed in his 1st yr before thinking about what he's going to do his 5th yr.