What if the Wizards swapped out Coach EJ? Who's out there looking for work in the coaching ranks?
Here's a few names:
1. Tom Thibodeau
The man coaches defense!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thibodeau
One of the finest defensive coaches in the league, he helped the Houston Rockets rank among the Top 5 in the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense from 2004 to 2007,[1] and has helped his team finish in the league's Top 10 in team defense 15 times.[2] He coached in 87 playoff games and was part of the 1999 NBA Finals as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks prior to joining the Celtics, with whom he won the 2008 NBA Championship.
2. David Blatt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Blatt
Played for Pete Carril at Princeton. Has coached FIBA, Euroleague, and Israeli League championship. Coached Russian national team to championship in 2007. Currently coaching Dynamo Moscow.
3. Dave Joerger
Coached 4 CBA championship teams in 6 years. Better record than Phil Jackson or Flip Saunders who both got started in the CBA. Coached 2007 NBDL champs.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/dakota/joerger_060526.html
Here's what DX had to say in selecting Joerger D-League coach of the year in 2007:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Dra ... ards-2041/
Coach of the Year: Dave Joerger, Dakota Wizards
There were many quality coaches in the D-League this season, all with a variety of impressive credentials that led them to a head minor league coaching position. Coaching in the D-League requires a coach to be responsible for all of the drafting and roster moves in addition to normal coaching duties. There was no coach in the league more impressive than Dave Joerger when it came to in game adjustments and roster moves. Joerger has a great understanding of the game and isn’t afraid to be creative with his in-game adjustments. At the age of 31, he has only lost 1 playoff series in his career, and he will surely receive the chance to lead an NBA team if his career continues on its current path.
4. Bill Laimbeer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Laimbeer
Bill Laimbeer is the only player, other than his Detroit teammates, to have a winning record in the playoffs against NBA legends, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.
Laimbeer has led the Detroit Shock of the WNBA to its third league championship in six years defeating San Antonio on October 5, 2008
Bill Laimbeer is the subject of the Beastie Boys song Tough Guy.[1]
Bill Laimbeer enjoyed great success as a video game character in Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball
From same article, Laimbeer as a player fought Bird, Daugherty, and Barkley. Was punched in the face by Jordan and also Parish.
Laimbeer has talked about the possibility of one day coaching in the NBA. The New York Knicks, whose former team president, former Piston teammate Isiah Thomas, once considered Laimbeer as a possibility. The Pistons, presided by former teammate Joe Dumars, had considered the possibility of Laimbeer replacing departing coach Larry Brown, before ultimately hiring former Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders
Skilled big man who'd undoubtably bring Rick Mahorn as an assistant coach. Who better to work with McGee, Blatche, and Pecherov? You think a 6'11" man is going to play Darius at C?
5. Jeff Van Gundy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Van_Gundy
Note: JVG hasn't gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since 1999/2000, despite having a 44-44 playoff coaching record. Had a lot of success with the Knicks.
Other names
6. Dwayne Casey http://www.nba.com/coachfile/dwane_casey/index.html
7. Eric Musselman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Musselman
8. Herb Williams http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Williams
9. Terry Stotts http://www.nba.com/coachfile/terry_stotts/?nav=page
10. Darryl Walker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Walker