Post#638 » by gardenofsound » Mon Sep 14, 2020 6:40 pm
Coaches currently on the market with some level of success as head coaches at the NBA level:
Tyronn Lue ***** (Cleveland)
Jeff Van Gundy **** (New York, Houston)
Stan Van Gundy **** (Houston, Miami, Orlando, Detroit)
Mike D'Antoni *** (Denver, Phoenix, New York, LA, Houston)
Billy Donovan ***
Alvin Gentry***
Dave Joerger**
Nate McMillan **
Brett Brown **
Mark Jackson **
Jason Kidd **
Kenny Atkinson *
David Fizdale *
Stars equate to pinnacle as head coach:
***** = won championship
**** = Finals
*** = Conference Finals
** = Semi Finals
* = Playoffs
Potential vacancies depending on how the rest of the playoffs shake out:
Frank Vogel***
Doc Rivers*****
Analysis of the open roles:
Philadelphia: anything less than a competitive showing in the ECF would be a disappointment.
Houston: anything less than a competitive showing in the WCF would be a disappointment, UNLESS they fire-sale and rebuild.
Indiana: expecting HCA in the first round, competitive showing in the ECSF.
New Orleans: make the playoffs and make the first round opponent take them seriously.
Oklahoma City: develop the young core and try to make the playoffs. If CP3 stays, then they should be threatening a first round upset.
Chicago: develop the young core and build an advertisement for free agents that this is a good place to be.
Potential open roles:
LA Lakers: championship or bust
LA Clippers: Finals or bust
ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, here's where I think things shake out from the Bulls perspective:
AK needs to wait out the playoffs.
If the Lakers win the championship, then I think Doc Rivers will get fired and will gun for the Chicago job. It's a big market with lots of cap space expected next year. He's also from Chicago. I think the big question here would be whether or not Chicago is willing to pony up for Doc.
If neither the Lakers or Clippers win the championship, then Doc will be coaching the Lakers next year and D'Antoni/Lue are vying for the Sixers job.
If the Clippers win the championship, then add Frank Vogel to the list of candidates, and expect Lue and D'Antoni to end up coaching the Lakers and Sixers.
If Doc Rivers isn't the next Bulls coach, then I think Donovan is plan B (but the Bulls may not be high on his list), and Atkinson/Unseld/Udoka are plan C.