Who's the new coach? - Speculation thread

[heathmalc]

The great thing about the internet, as opposed to print, is that you can speculate, guess, conjure up deals, and be completely open with your thoughts. When writing an article for a print publication, you do not have this type of freedoms - although some (unnamed) journalists don't mind bending the bar as far as it will go.

I have this feeling that the Cavaliers actually have no real interest in Phil Jackson. That would seem absurd considering his resume, but as all of you know, when you get a "feeling," there is very little (if anything) that can/will change it. I also do not believe the Cavaliers are interested in coach K, from Duke. Not that those two coaches aren't great... rather, I think the Cavs, and Gilbert in-particular, is looking for a specific direction.

So, who do I think will be the Cavaliers' next coach? Ironically, it's a coach that I think most of you will not like: Calipari. I think he is the number-one choice right now, and the only think that everyone is waiting for is June 1st. Why June 1st? June 1st is the day that William Wesley officially becomes an agent. More importantly, it is the first day he becomes the agent for Coach Calipari. I think that this is a move that may have been agreed to a few months ago... behind closed doors.

Interestingly, Calipari was sitting across from the Cavaliers' bench, next to LeBron's agent, during game-5 of the Celtic series. I may be reading too much into that, but I don't think so. It's not as if I think that LeBron threw that game or anything. However, LeBron's disagreements with Mike Brown over who starts, and rotations, had been going on for three years, with LeBron becoming more and more vocal with each passing season. I think that there is a good probability that LeBron hid his disdain for coach Brown for as long as he could, for the welfare of the team. It was well known within the organization that LeBron was not a Brown supporter. He does have huge respect for Malone and Jent though. Which brings up the fact that the Cavs assistants were retained. If Calipari were hired, there is a good chance that Malone and Jent would be the top two assistants. Calipari and Malone are good friends. Jent is close to LeBron. William Wesley ties it all together.

This is, of course, all speculation and to some degree, a seemingly impossible chain of events. That being said, who would better cover-up the Cavaliers' true intentions for a coach, than the seemingly hard pursuit of Phil Jackson and Coach K? By retaining the assistants, the Cavaliers appear to be making a smart business decision, having familiar coaches help in the scouting process. This would make sense if one of those coaches were to be hired as the next head coach. But, if a new HC is to be brought in, then the assistants of a former coach would be of no use in scouting and working out players for a future unknown coach. If it were a matter of just working out players to rate them as potential targets, then perhaps Jent would be retained (Player development coach/director), along with a couple of the lower/cheaper assistants. But, the other main assistants would be of no more help than any of the others; begging the question: Why were they retained...all of them? The Cavs organization's public response has been to retain a measure of stability, familiarity. That sounds good. BUT... where is the stability when the new HC comes in with his new assistants, and the current ones are finally fired? So, why were they really all retained? If Calipari is to be the next HC... then this makes complete sense. Calipari has either worked with or is friends with all the assistants except Melvin Hunt.

There are more unusual ties between Jent, Malone and Calipari... including the Larry Brown tie-ins; but none of those really point to anything, so I wont waste time with them. Whether I am right or wrong we wont know... but for some odd reason, I really feel like the next coach of the Cavs is going to be JVC (John Vincent Calipari).

[heathmalc]

One other possibility: What if the Cavs were keeping the assistants because the next coach was going to be LeBron?

Incidentally, the CBA does not allow player-coaches anymore. However, that has not stopped the media from asking coaches,GM's, etc what they thought about it. Recently Doc Rivers was asked about this. His response was that he thought that there would probably be another one, but that he thought it'd have to be a vet.

My only question is: If it is against the CBA, then why is everyone acting as if it were something that was a fees-able option? It isn't as if Doc Rivers and KiKi,etc don't know the CBA... or at-least most of it. For some reason, I am thinking that there may be a loop-hole in that rule.

[RRT]

huh what, lebron as the player coach? well I didn't expect that one, but how would that be different from what we seen so far.

[Pula_86]

Obviously, if you could pick any coach, Phil Jackson would be at the top of the list. I just don't think it is that realistic. Based on who is available, I think Jeff Van Gundy and Avery Johnson should be at the top of the list. A guy who always does well with his teams, but is not available is Rick Adelman. I think he does an excellent job getting the most out of his teams.

If the choice is Callipari, he will certainly make Mike Brown look like a Hall of Fame coach. Even if LeBron comes back, if Callipari is a coach you can forget about contending for a NBA championship. Coaching does matter in the NBA contrary to some peoples perception. The list of recent NBA Championship coaches are some of the best with Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Larry Brown, Greg Popavich, Pat Riley and Rudy T.

[Niko23]

Not firing the assistants is interesting. I smell LeBron

[RRT]

Obviously, if you could pick any coach, Phil Jackson would be at the top of the list. I just don't think it is that realistic. Based on who is available, I think Jeff Van Gundy and Avery Johnson should be at the top of the list. A guy who always does well with his teams, but is not available is Rick Adelman. I think he does an excellent job getting the most out of his teams.

If the choice is Callipari, he will certainly make Mike Brown look like a Hall of Fame coach. Even if LeBron comes back, if Callipari is a coach you can forget about contending for a NBA championship. Coaching does matter in the NBA contrary to some peoples perception. The list of recent NBA Championship coaches are some of the best with Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Larry Brown, Greg Popavich, Pat Riley and Rudy T.

doc rivers is worse coach than mike brown.

[mcfly1204]

I am going to go out on a limb and say Avery Johnson. He got a lot out of that Dallas team, and I think he could really help our point guard play. I realize that there was controversy between Avery and some of his players, but I do not see that happening in Cleveland as long as LeBron is on board.

[mcfly1204]

Not firing the assistants is interesting. I smell LeBron

That is probably just that nasty smell when you are entering Cleveland on 77 North.

[heathmalc]

I am going to go out on a limb and say Avery Johnson. He got a lot out of that Dallas team, and I think he could really help our point guard play. I realize that there was controversy between Avery and some of his players, but I do not see that happening in Cleveland as long as LeBron is on board.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY doubt that Avery is anywhere near the top of our list of coaching candidates right now; closer to the bottom of the list.

Yes, Avery had some success in Dallas. Yes, he is a pretty good coach, and makes decent adjustments...decent, not great! However, the real reason that Avery is not at the top of ANYONE'S list of coaching candidates is because he is a narcissist. There is absolutely no way possible that him and LeBron could work together. Add in the fact that Avery has taken himself out of the running for no less than 3 coaching positions (that we know of) due to his egotistic demands, and it becomes clear that there is a higher probability of Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh signing for the vet minimum to play here than there is of Avery being the next HC here!

Avery's biggest demand? That he have complete control over player personnel.

Yeah, I am sure that Ferry (or any GM) and Gilbert are going to let Avery come in and have complete control of the personnel decisions that are made, and in essence, Gilbert's wallet.

[mcfly1204]

Because Phil was so unsuccessful being a narcissist?

[OSTMD]

The person they should bring in as head coach is Byron Scott. He has rings as a player and would be respected by all the players because of his background. I also think he would teach lebron how to lead and keep him in line as well. It is a coach like Scott that the truly needs to make the next step!

[mcfly1204]

The person they should bring in as head coach is Byron Scott. He has rings as a player and would be respected by all the players because of his background. I also think he would teach lebron how to lead and keep him in line as well. It is a coach like Scott that the truly needs to make the next step!

If Scott learned his lesson, i.e. how to develop young players, then I would be interested.

[Niko23]

Not firing the assistants is interesting. I smell LeBron

That is probably just that nasty smell when you are entering Cleveland on 77 North.

Na I head in on 90 West which is a nice 10 minute drive into downtown. 77 Sucks!!

[RRT]

Not firing the assistants is interesting. I smell LeBron

That is probably just that nasty smell when you are entering Cleveland on 77 North.

Na I head in on 90 West which is a nice 10 minute drive into downtown. 77 Sucks!!

it aint ohio if it's not 77...

[Baseline Runner]

Let's get Mike Fratello and use his bleed the shot clock down to nothing offense.

[TheOUTLAW]

Fratello wasn't like that in Atlanta. Only with the talent deprived Cavs of Kemp and Miller.

[Wisedude42]

I have been very underwhelmed by Kelvin Sampson when he was coaching Oklahoma followed by all his scandals at Indiana. He's a good BS-er - thats all he is. No player discipline, no self discipline, no NBA head coaching experience, not a tactician, not anything. I've been around the game for 40 years - I know what the heck I'm talking about.

Tom Izzo is a coach that I would offer the job to. As far as NBA people, I like Larry Brown if he leaves Charlotte.

The Cavs need to do a search and see if there is a clone of Chuck Daly out there. If there is, that's their guy. Period.

[gflem]

Let's get Mike Fratello and use his bleed the shot clock down to nothing offense.

If you can recall, Fratello was able to coach the talent he had to its best abilities. I was always amazed at his inbounds plays off of timeouts, it seemed like the Cavs then had about an 80% success rate back then. I like his intensity and his in game adjustments as far as making the other team adjust their lineup to match what his team was doing.
I know, a novel concept around these parts with our last coach, and of course Brown's inbounds plays were near pathetic as far as actually making a basket. More often than not his inbounds plays resulted in turnovers and late in the shot clock desperation heaves.
I wouldnt mind Byron Scott for the reasons mentioned. Also, as much as I hate to say it, I believe that some of todays players would respond better to Scott than Fratello due to age and race. I could be wrong though, hopefully winning would be the main concern of any player in any sport.

[RussellandFlow]

Race has nothing to do with it imo. I think that many of the current players, are more likely to respond to a coach that has either: played the game, not too old and/or has the championship pedigree(i.e. won titles).

[Baseline Runner]

Fratello wasn't like that in Atlanta. Only with the talent deprived Cavs of Kemp and Miller.

He used that offense before Kemp when our best players were Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill. Anyways I was joking, I think any lineup with Lebron should push the tempo, not slow it to a crawl.