RealGM

og15 wrote:Hmm...well, if Ballmer was advised by West, etc that Doc needed to be fired, it is likely that he would do so, but who knows. It seems like Doc passed the test for them this season, which of course is understandable, and probably him being on contract still was a factor. If we believe Jerry West is a good talent and organization evaluator, then we also have to believe that Doc's coaching job really was good if he is retaining his job as it was said that he was under evaluation this season

Generally if a team wants to fire a coach they want to do it now so that they can have him be in the loop on the draft, etc, so him staying for now seems to imply he is staying for next season, but stranger things have happened.

* At some point in late May or early June, Rivers and Ainge sat down again, and this is where things get murky. Rivers admitted he remained indecisive, but asked Ainge what he could do to help the Celtics. "That's what started everything," said Rivers. "[Ainge said,] 'You can make a decision or there are other teams that we can make a deal with and get something for you. Just leaving doesn't help us. And that's how this thing came about. We agreed upon it together. This is not me walking into a room and saying, 'I want to go to the Clippers.'"

* Ainge seemingly ruled out the idea of allowing Rivers to go to an in-division rival like Brooklyn, but Los Angeles "piqued" Rivers' interest, particularly amid his concerns about whether his time in Boston had run its course. Said Ainge: "We had a conversation, him and I, as friends and partners over the last nine years, and a guy that I really trust, we had a conversation that we discussed the possibility of him trying to get the Clippers job. There were other teams that were interested in hiring Doc, [but] we didn't allow any of them to talk to Doc that had inquired. But the Clippers were one that intrigued him a little bit."

* By mid-June reports began to surface that there was "strong mutual interest" between Rivers and the Clippers. Soon after, Boston and Los Angeles began what became very public negotiations...

TinmanZBoy wrote:Frank is Doc's hire, before cutting Doc, Ballmer has to cut Frank first...

esqtvd wrote:I see no advantage in bringing in another coach and another system that will have growing pains.

The strategy for 2018-19 should simply be to tread water and not make a hash of what remains of the winning culture of the franchise.

Come 2019-20, we will have $60M in open cap space. The best thing would be to have as much flexibility as possible, including who's the coach.

The question looming is whether Doc will put up with lame duck status or push his way out.

MartinToVaught wrote:

The question looming is whether Doc will put up with lame duck status or push his way out.

Even as a lame duck, Doc will make $10 million, live in LA and get to coach his son. I'd be very surprised if he walks away from that.

What’s more, multiple sources said two current head coaches — Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers and Mike Budenholzer of Atlanta – have more than a passing interest in the Bucks’ job and coaching the NBA’s brightest young star in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

...

As for Rivers, there has been persistent rumors he’ll be leaving the Clippers after the season. Rivers is still a beloved figure in Milwaukee after having been an All-American guard at Marquette University and would undoubtedly create a buzz as the Bucks move into a new arena next season.”

Quake Griffin wrote:I’m in on a new coach. Doc’s level of interest in coming back is pushing me over the top.

I’d actually love to have a new coach implement a new system, coach up our 2 new rookies and lay some foundation/ clear the deck for a run at the 2019 free agent class.

While I think Doc is a good coach and did a good job this year, I worry if the stench of having him (and Austin) around scares off a Klay Thompson or Kawhi or Kyrie or even Middleton.

esqtvd wrote:It's a good argument although Austin was not an issue this year.

Neither is it clear that he and/or Doc would even be in the picture next summer.

A new coach could create more problems than he'd solve.

OTOH, at the moment, by leaving him dangle, Ballmer looks like he's easing/pushing Doc out.

esqtvd wrote:

MartinToVaught wrote:

The question looming is whether Doc will put up with lame duck status or push his way out.

Even as a lame duck, Doc will make $10 million, live in LA and get to coach his son. I'd be very surprised if he walks away from that.

We shall see. a) Doc is a proud man [lame-duck status is an indignity] and b) if there are options, he already proved in Boston he'll take them.

What’s more, multiple sources said two current head coaches — Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers and Mike Budenholzer of Atlanta – have more than a passing interest in the Bucks’ job and coaching the NBA’s brightest young star in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

...

As for Rivers, there has been persistent rumors he’ll be leaving the Clippers after the season. Rivers is still a beloved figure in Milwaukee after having been an All-American guard at Marquette University and would undoubtedly create a buzz as the Bucks move into a new arena next season.”

https://clutchpoints.com/bucks-rumors-doc-rivers-mike-budenholzer-have-more-than-a-passing-interest-in-head-coach-job/