3 Coaching Finalists Poll

[vic]

I love Udoka, but I also love Beileins coaching skill. What he does with those Michigan teams with those barely NBA players and mostly non-NBA players is nothing short of amazing. This guy has reached the championship game twice in the past few years. His best players were Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Mo Wagner, and Caris Levert. None of these guys are NBA stars. Every single one of them, he made them look better than they were.

Honestly I would be most excited if the Pistons hired John Beilein, and also gave Ime Udoka a contract to be his top assistant, with a guarantee to take over as head coach when Beilein is done. Beilein is 65 years old. If I was Beilein, that would be an amazing way to contribute to the game, mentor a younger coach, and then retire. If I'm the Pistons, you gotta find a way to keep Udoka in your program. Udoka gets a guaranteed promotion and a long term position at the age of 40.

That would be an awesome culture reset for the Pistons. Stops the coaching carousel before it starts. It also kind of matches what they are trying to do with the GM role in hiring an older advisor to help train a young up and comer. Best of both worlds.

[ducler]

Reports say that Casey is frontrunner...

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[DCintheD]

I love Udoka, but I also love Beileins coaching skill. What he does with those Michigan teams with those barely NBA players and mostly non-NBA players is nothing short of amazing. This guy has reached the championship game twice in the past few years. His best players were Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Mo Wagner, and Caris Levert. None of these guys are NBA stars. Every single one of them, he made them look better than they were.

Honestly I would be most excited if the Pistons hired John Beilein, and also gave Ime Udoka a contract to be his top assistant, with a guarantee to take over as head coach when Beilein is done. Beilein is 65 years old. If I was Beilein, that would be an amazing way to contribute to the game, mentor a younger coach, and then retire. If I'm the Pistons, you gotta find a way to keep Udoka in your program. Udoka gets a guaranteed promotion and a long term position at the age of 40.

That would be an awesome culture reset for the Pistons. Stops the coaching carousel before it starts. It also kind of matches what they are trying to do with the GM role in hiring an older advisor to help train a young up and comer. Best of both worlds.

Pop is nearing 70. I’m sure the spurs already have that in mind for Udoka. You want Udoka you hire him now. Love Beilein too but you can’t have both.

[DCintheD]

1. Udoka - high risk/high reward
2. Beilein - medium risk/high reward
3. Casey - low risk/medium reward

to me Udoka is the most exciting candidate. learned from Pop, calm demeanor, respected by great players, only 40 years old - can better connect with the players.

I like Belein a lot but his age makes me think he won't be around long.

Please no to Casey.

i have to believe that medium risk/high reward is better than high risk/high reward, no? why would you have udoka ahead of beilein if that's the case?

I change my mind. Udoka is low risk/very high reward. We don’t have a window of winning with this team. Udoka is perfect for now and the long haul. Love Beilein but we need youth on the rise as coach.

[Billl]

Not sure why people are thinking we are going to get a young coach and then he'll be with the team for 20 years. The chances of finding the next Pop are tiny. Realistically, Gores wants to make the playoffs with this group. That window is either never going to open or open for a very short period. After that, it's likely a rebuild. They guy you get for the next 3 years to coach vets is probably not going to be the guy who leads you through the rebuild. The chances of it being the same guy after this period, then a full rebuild, then are return to contention.... well, basically 0.

[Crymson]

Pop is nearing 70. I’m sure the spurs already have that in mind for Udoka. You want Udoka you hire him now. Love Beilein too but you can’t have both.

Messina seems to be the frontrunner to take over for Pop. But I, too, would like Udoka. He's young, with the potential to stick with the organization for the long term.

[DCintheD]

Not sure why people are thinking we are going to get a young coach and then he'll be with the team for 20 years. The chances of finding the next Pop are tiny. Realistically, Gores wants to make the playoffs with this group. That window is either never going to open or open for a very short period. After that, it's likely a rebuild. They guy you get for the next 3 years to coach vets is probably not going to be the guy who leads you through the rebuild. The chances of it being the same guy after this period, then a full rebuild, then are return to contention.... well, basically 0.

so basically hire a team of consultants to hire a temporary coach? I agree that does sound like Gores logic.. lets not hire a young, qualified, up and coming coach because he won't be the next Pop and won't be here 20 years from now. even better logic...

[Billl]

Not sure why people are thinking we are going to get a young coach and then he'll be with the team for 20 years. The chances of finding the next Pop are tiny. Realistically, Gores wants to make the playoffs with this group. That window is either never going to open or open for a very short period. After that, it's likely a rebuild. They guy you get for the next 3 years to coach vets is probably not going to be the guy who leads you through the rebuild. The chances of it being the same guy after this period, then a full rebuild, then are return to contention.... well, basically 0.

so basically hire a team of consultants to hire a temporary coach? I agree that does sound like Gores logic.. lets not hire a young, qualified, up and coming coach because he won't be the next Pop and won't be here 20 years from now. even better logic...

No, the logic is you hire the best coach for your current team and current direction. If that guy happens to be young, fine. Don't just hire a young guy because you think he might be great 5 years from now because 5 years from now he'll be coaching a different team.

[ComboGuardCity]

Reports say that Casey is frontrunner...

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Source?

[DCintheD]

Not sure why people are thinking we are going to get a young coach and then he'll be with the team for 20 years. The chances of finding the next Pop are tiny. Realistically, Gores wants to make the playoffs with this group. That window is either never going to open or open for a very short period. After that, it's likely a rebuild. They guy you get for the next 3 years to coach vets is probably not going to be the guy who leads you through the rebuild. The chances of it being the same guy after this period, then a full rebuild, then are return to contention.... well, basically 0.

so basically hire a team of consultants to hire a temporary coach? I agree that does sound like Gores logic.. lets not hire a young, qualified, up and coming coach because he won't be the next Pop and won't be here 20 years from now. even better logic...

No, the logic is you hire the best coach for your current team and current direction. If that guy happens to be young, fine. Don't just hire a young guy because you think he might be great 5 years from now because 5 years from now he'll be coaching a different team.

I agree with that logic. However, Udoka is not a finalist because he's young and might be great 5 years from now. He's a finalist because he might be a great fit for the team right now.

[Billl]

Not sure how to reconcile your last post with "udoka is perfect for now and the long haul. Love Beilein but we need youth on the rise as coach."

We don't need youth on the rise. We need a good coach. Unless you think Beilein is going to drop dead in the next couple of years, there is no reason to dismiss him because of his age. If you think udoka is a better fit for the current team and direction, that's a perfectly reasonable opinion, but his age shouldn't really be part of that decision making process.

[ducler]

It will be between Casey and Udoka

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[DETermination]

I want Udoka

[DCintheD]

Not sure how to reconcile your last post with "udoka is perfect for now and the long haul. Love Beilein but we need youth on the rise as coach."

We don't need youth on the rise. We need a good coach. Unless you think Beilein is going to drop dead in the next couple of years, there is no reason to dismiss him because of his age. If you think udoka is a better fit for the current team and direction, that's a perfectly reasonable opinion, but his age shouldn't really be part of that decision making process.

Beilein is staying at UM - I would have loved having him but he was unrealistic all along. Its between Casey and Udoka. If we choose Casey thats a huge mistake

[DCintheD]

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[joeposh]

Yup, not shocking but hopefully Coach B gave Gores and the search team some good insight that will help them make the right choice in the end.