Could MJ Coach One Day?

Post #1 » by **BigSlam** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 5:43 am

I think it's been pretty evident that since LB arrived, the font office has made more decisive, calculated moves - which has been in a big part, because of him.

It's been wonderful to have a "real" coach in LB here leading the team and installing something for the future, but the concern when we signed him was how long he would stick around. Knowing he is kind of (ok, a lot) nomadic compounded by the fact that he isn't getting any younger makes me wonder............who's next (I miss Goldberg).

Last thing we need 3 years from now is to bring in the next Sam Vincent. We need someone in place to carry through what LB has started, other wise these times will all be for naught.

Knowing that LB has a big impact on MJ and seeing what McHale has done in Minni, compounded by the fact that MJ has a VERY suspect history as a GM/Front office type guy..........how about a role reversal?

LB to the FO and MJ to the bench?

What do you think? Could he do it? He "could" be our head coach for the next decade if it works out well.

Post #2 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 6:26 am

I definitely think the FO should give LB a prominent job once he's not the head coach, of course assuming that he's having the affect that we assume he's having.

I'm not so sure about MJ on the bench though.

Post #3 » by **BigSlam** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 6:33 am

Ok, so if not MJ, who?

For as long as I have been doing what I do, one thing has reigned true. Succession management is key. It HAS to be a given that LB isn't long term (age, history, progression etc) so someone has to take up the mantle. He has a very specific blue print in mind of what a team should be. Why go through all this to re-invent the wheel?

If he really does have MJ's ear, like it would appear he does, why not make MJ that guy?

To me, it's almost the perfect solution because it would be a natural progression of two guys who have (by that stage) been on the same page with the same team pointing it in the same direction for 3 or 4 years.

Difference being that MJ is still young and might have 10 years of coaching in him.

Post #4 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 4:35 pm

I think Phil Ford is the leading candidate...maybe Hanners. Herb and Caple are the type of assistants that you delegate tasks to and know they'll get them done the way you want. They're vets, but I'm inferring that if they had the necessary coaching chops for a pro team they would've been given keys somewhere by now.

I think Hanners is probably one of those guys too, but since he's been with LB in every stop since he left his spot on UNC's bench after, Guthridge (but more notably for nearly a decade beside Smith), he has to have picked up something. Ford was a stellar player, had an extra year on UNC's bench but less time as a Larry Brown assistant...but I remember when I followed UNC that he was always the one people talked about succeeding someone as a Head Coach some day, not Hanners. Ford also had a rep as a master recruiter, so he must be able to relate to younger players somehow, not so sure about Hanners, but I feel like he was supposed to have pulled some pretty good kids as well.

Bobcats seem like a promotion from within type of franchise after the Sam Vincent incident.

StutterStep · Post #5 » by **StutterStep** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 4:46 pm

Hanners is the guy you want. He was amazing the times he led the charge during S/L for the Knicks and the young players loved him. I wanted him to be our coach but Dolan stuck us with Isiah.

Post #6 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 5:21 pm

I got to tour the Smith center when I was like 10 and Hanners was the guy that showed me and my dad around. Super nice guy. Thanks for the addition Stutter, didn't know that about his SL success.

Edit: Eric Montross was a big deal during this tour, it was right before he was drafted so I guess this was 1994 and I was 9

W_HAMILTON · Post #7 » by **W_HAMILTON** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 7:52 pm

Could MJ coach one day?

I thought you said the last thing we need is to bring in the next Sam Vincent.

Boom.

BOOM!

CatNation · Post #8 » by **CatNation** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 8:03 pm

I doubt Jordan has the time

countryboi · Post #9 » by **countryboi** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 8:09 pm

CatNation wrote:I doubt Jordan has the time

I doubt he has the patience....he seems like a you are doing it wrong, get out the way and let me do it type of guy

thruthefire · Post #10 » by **thruthefire** » Sun Feb 8, 2009 9:59 pm

W_HAMILTON wrote:Could MJ coach one day?

I thought you said the last thing we need is to bring in the next Sam Vincent.

Boom.

BOOM!

Sam Vincent isn't the G.O.A.T.

ccbballin · Post #11 » by **ccbballin** » Mon Feb 9, 2009 2:07 am

Jordan seems too happy sitting on the end of the bench drinking his mixed drinks. Maybe an old Bulls teammate might be next in line.