Who should be the next coach of the Washington Wizards?

[Illuminaire]

He's not my first choice. That said, D'antoni can get wins with scrappers who play his way if anyone on the roster can shoot. If nothing else, his teams are fun to watch and if anyone is going to maximize John Wall, he will.

The only way he's coaching us to a championship is if we draft Davis though, lol.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Potential Scoop Alert:

I have a source who said D'Antoni is the likely hire. I believe this guy is in the know. He knew about the Nene deal before it was consummated.

This would seem to jibe with the report from Deadspin that when D'antoni resigned from the Knicks job he already had the Wizards or Bobcats job lined up.

This would also follow a similar pattern to the Saunders hire; it appeared that the Wizards reached out to Flip and perhaps even had a deal in place while Tapscott led the tank a few years ago.

The other tidbit that I find interesting is that the Nene deal went down after D'Antoni resigned (by a day, maybe two?). I have to wonder if Ernie called up D'Antoni and said "Mike, could Nene be the dive man in your pick and roll," D'antoni approved and then they made the deal.

If this news is true, I would be happy with it. I know that a great many here want Dave Joerger (and we'd again have to send a search party out to make sure CCJ is okay). BUt I believe D'antoni is an excellent coach. He came very close to winning it all in Phoenix and got unlucky. The roster he was given in New York never had a chance.

I also believe there's a misconception that his teams are all O and no D. The Knicks are 7th in defensive rating this year. His Phoenix teams were routinely middle of the pack (as high as 12th or 13th), but were always elite offensively.

I believe his up-tempo style is attractive to Leonsis. I think John would thrive in his system, provided we surround him with some shooters (that needs to happen no matter who the coach is). If the Wizards can have the decade the Suns did -- even if they never win a title -- I would be happy.

I need to pick up a copy of Seven Seconds or Less.

Sure, why not hire a guy who is older than Flip by 4 years?

Honestly, it is Ted's money to waste. I don't equate older coach and a time-consuming process with success.

In Phoenix he had Steve Nash, a PG who can shoot very well. He had Shawn Marion at the top of his game. He had Amare at the top of his game. When Amare was hurt, the system D'Antoni ran got the absolute best out of Boris Diaw. He had a lot of three point shooters. In Washington, this guy will be more frustrated than Flip was in no time.

I don't see it, but whatever. fisher, I am down about it but I think you knew pretty much how I would feel. D'Antoni's 7 Seconds or Less style won't be boring. I'm sure a lot of people will be okay with the choice. I am sure I won't be, but what else is new.

[dobrojim]

My gut reaction is to hate the idea of acquiring D'Antoni, but then I looked at the numbers.

In Phoenix, D'Antoni won 62, 54, 61 and 55 games. And that 54-win season he did completely without Amare. That 55-win season he did while missing Marion for 35 games.

He managed 32 and 29 wins in his first two seasons in New York with absolute dreck for a lineup. His lineup in the 32-win season was: Duhon, Q.Rich, N.Robinson, W.Chandler, D.Lee, Al Harrington and J.Jeffries. His lineup in the 29-win season added a rookie Gallinari and lost QRich. Basically, he had two legit NBA starters (Chandler and Lee), neither or whom are any better than average at their position (maybe Lee is slightly above average).

I figure he can do better than that with our lineup. Nene is about as good as Lee relative to his position (a slightly above-average starter). Booker is roughly equivalent to Chandler. Seraphin is equivalent to Harrington. Vesley = Jeffries. Crawford = Robinson. Mack = Duhon. Our 1st round pick = Gallinari. We basically have the same caliber lineup plus a potential superstar PG in Wall. I figure D'Antoni can squeeze 35-40 wins out of our talent base.

It's also worth noting that D'Antoni loves a PG driven offense. Who is better equipped than D'Antoni to leverage our best player?

all this is well and good except that it reminds me of the kind of
arguments that were used to support the hiring of Flip, arguments
that I will concede I accepted at the time. Fool me once, shame
on you, fool me twice....Joerger needs to be the guy.

[Nivek]

I think D'Antoni is a good coach, but I'd prefer someone with more of an emphasis on defense. Nearly any offensive system will work if you have talented players. Defense is mostly about teamwork and system. Younger is not necessarily better, but the Wiz have had a couple offensive-minded coaches (EJ and Flip). I'd like to see them get off the retread mill and hire Joerger. He looks like the Flip/Phil Jackson of his generation.

[dobrojim]

we need the next Thibs, not a retread

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think D'Antoni is a good coach, but I'd prefer someone with more of an emphasis on defense. Nearly any offensive system will work if you have talented players. Defense is mostly about teamwork and system. Younger is not necessarily better, but the Wiz have had a couple offensive-minded coaches (EJ and Flip). I'd like to see them get off the retread mill and hire Joerger. He looks like the Flip/Phil Jackson of his generation.

+1

What the Bullets/Wizards have done is go from Abe's "Mom&Pop" organization to Ted and Ernie's way. Greek American New Yorker and Romanian American New Yorker are probably aligned on a personal level to the extent that familiarity and trust is going to outweigh objectivity and good basketball sense. Ernie is the man, forever, here. (Disclaimer: I am pointing to familiarity/preference and hopefully not coming off wrong here).

Apparently, without even going through an objective search, the Wizards will name D'Antoni, an Italian American who just failed with the NY Knicks, head coach. What is his motivation now? How much energy does he have for this task? Is he on the rise or on the fall? Or, is this someone who seems like an attractive hire? I guess the ticket buyers will like the name D'Antoni from a familiarity standpoint. To me it seems status or the perception of what a good player or coach is drives what happens in DC. Why this man, now? It reminds me so much of Dan Snyder going after big names and paying big money instead of using performance metrics and finding an up-and-comer. Recycled players didn't work out. (RG3 acquisition is a new way of doing things that hopefully will work.)

Sure, D'Antoni, like Flip Saunders, has coached a lot of winning teams. Yes, he has earned a great reputation. He is working with Coach K on Team USA's coaching staff. But to my way of thinking this is a bad fit. Old coach, retread, rebuilding team ... it doesn't fit. it is like telling someone who is used to living in a mansion to move out and move in to a starter home.

I don't like the way Grunfeld thinks and the Wizards are 29th of 30 teams for a reason--mainly his poor judgment. Worse, his boss is going to stick with him.

This is another bad move but at least Ernie is consistent. Since 2003 the best the Wizards have managed is 45 wins. Yet, that dude keeps his job and makes big deals and has already picked the next coach. WTF

Nivek, I would rather go with a stats guy who has won recently. One no older than 50, but preferably in his 40s or 30s.

[dobrojim]

Mr Leonsis,

I'm sure you probably get more well meaning advice than
you might prefer but I still find myself compelled to offer
the suggestion that hiring a re-tread former NBA coach,
for instance Mike D'Antoni, would possibly be a mistake.

What I would respectfully suggest in the alternative is
a hungry, ambitious, gifted, reasonably young assistant
coach who wants to prove himself and make a name for himself.
Such a coach should have a proven track record of success.
I believe the Bulls have successfully demonstrated the wisdom
of such an approach in their hiring of Tom Thibodeau.

It's possible the next Thibs is now an assistant coach for
the Memphis Grizzlies named Dave Joerger. I sincerely
hope you take a long look at this guy as a candidate.

Please do not take this as a condemnation of Randy
Whitman who has done a reasonable job as an interim
coach. But once the season is over, it will be time to
thank him for his service and move on.

thank you

-dobrojim
season ticket holder grateful for fewer knuckleheads
on the roster

[FAH1223]

Mr Leonsis,

I'm sure you probably get more well meaning advice than
you might prefer but I still find myself compelled to offer
the suggestion that hiring a re-tread former NBA coach,
for instance Mike D'Antoni, would possibly be a mistake.

What I would respectfully suggest in the alternative is
a hungry, ambitious, gifted, reasonably young assistant
coach who wants to prove himself and make a name for himself.
Such a coach should have a proven track record of success.
I believe the Bulls have successfully demonstrated the wisdom
of such an approach in their hiring of Tom Thibodeau.

It's possible the next Thibs is now an assistant coach for
the Memphis Grizzlies named Dave Joerger. I sincerely
hope you take a long look at this guy as a candidate.

Please do not take this as a condemnation of Randy
Whitman who has done a reasonable job as an interim
coach. But once the season is over, it will be time to
thank him for his service and move on.

thank you

-dobrojim
season ticket holder grateful for fewer knuckleheads
on the roster

I e-mailed Ted practially begging for him to look at Joerger. I hope you e-mailed this to him too.

I want to head to the Verizon Center one day and find him.

[dobrojim]

yes I ripped off Benjammin from page 10 of this thread

I admit it.

[dobrojim]

that was the email I sent to Mr Leonsis

[verbal8]

Is there a chance to get Thibs from the Bulls?

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Situation

[jivelikenice]

With Thibs openly complaining about his deal I'd monitor this situation. Ernie got him to take a job here before....With Eddie out the picture he might finally get his guy.

I'll admit, I don't know much about Dave Joerger...why is everyone here so high on him? I heard CCJ mention him a while back and now that seems to be the popular name to throw around here.

[Ed Wood]

Not really a new target, or one of CCJ's in particular. If anything I think it was Doc who first pushed for Joerger possibly as early as 2007, after his year at the helm of the D League Champion Wizards (Dakota, the former Washington D League affiliate). I might be misremembering that but generally he's become something of the board's white whale as a coach. He's still relatively young, hasn't had an opportunity to be a head coach in the NBA but everywhere else he's been he's been a huge success. He's also reportedly well regarded all around, real daughter marrying material, and is particularly known for his defensive acumen. So basically the Platonic Ideal vis-à-vis the qualities most often evoked when we talk about potential coaches.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Getting a pissed off Tippitoes with something to prove would be a dream scenario.

His experience with Rose would help him take Wall's game to the next level.

Please, please, please let this happen somehow.

[jivelikenice]

what kind of offensive system would joerger run? anyone know what he did in the d league?

[hands11]

Getting a pissed off Tippitoes with something to prove would be a dream scenario.

His experience with Rose would help him take Wall's game to the next level.

Please, please, please let this happen somehow.

Gotta think he would be the front runner. With the EG connection. Can EG convince Ted to open his wallet for something like that ? It would be justice. He was ours before Abe and EFJ blow it for us.

[jivelikenice]

You get Thibs, a lotto pick, and a FA and we're a playoff team next year....maybe even as high as a 5 seed..

[nate33]

This may be the afterglow of the Philly game talking, but one can't dismiss the possibility of Whitman being retained as head coach. If the post-Nene turnaround is for real and the Wizards finish off the season playing .500 ball, it's going to be pretty tough to justify firing Whitman

Don't get me wrong, I'd take Thibs in a heartbeat. I'm just saying that things aren't always so easy. How do you a fire the first coach to coax sustained quality play from the Wizards since the prime Arenas days? If the numbers are to be believed, the Wizards are downright good on defense. I mean scary good.

[TheBigThree]

Randy has these guys playing really solid basketball. Probably the best we've seen this team defensively in a decade. I wouldn't really be averse to resigning him if the team continues to progress (not even talking W/L solely) the rest of the season. Need the offense to come along a bit more, but who else is out there that'd be willing to come to the team in the state it's currently in?

Good quote from Craw regarding the coach's message at half

"We talked about it at halftime," Crawford said. "(Coach) said, 'Step on their throats,' and that's what we wanted to do."

[SUPERBALLMAN]

This may be the afterglow of the Philly game talking, but one can't dismiss the possibility of Whitman being retained as head coach. If the post-Nene turnaround is for real and the Wizards finish off the season playing .500 ball, it's going to be pretty tough to justify firing Whitman

Don't get me wrong, I'd take Thibs in a heartbeat. I'm just saying that things aren't always so easy. How do you a fire the first coach to coax sustained quality play from the Wizards since the prime Arenas days? If the numbers are to be believed, the Wizards are downright good on defense. I mean scary good.

I'm not opposed to keeping Whit. He's done a great job.