More Short Lists for Coaching Vacancy

13 Apr 2010

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Sources tell me that the Clippers are in absolutely no hurry to move on the coaching front. That said, the organization is taking inventory of the market and has a few names in mind.

Ric Bucher weighs in today at ESPN.com in a story that nixes the idea that Larry Brown is a serious candidate for the job:

The Los Angeles Clippers will not challenge the Philadelphia 76ers in attempting to lure Bobcats coach Larry Brown away from Charlotte, a league source said Tuesday…

There is private speculation among league executives that Brown fanned the Clippers’ interest simply to motivate the 76ers. Much has been made of Brown supposedly wanting to return to L.A., but he sold his home in Malibu more than a year ago and has no other remaining ties to the area…

The preliminary list of candidates to succeed Clippers interim coach Kim Hughes are, the source said: ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey, Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner and New York Knicks assistant Herb Williams.

Both Casey and Turner would be very smart choices for the Clippers. A few weeks ago, I offered up my wish list at ESPN Los Angeles.

http://deleted Q.D.

After reading Turner’s profile, I think he’s the best choice. However, we would need the players to perform the motion-oriented offense. The players would require some bball IQ. I don’t think our guys are capable of running a complex offense.
- http://www.clipperblog.com Kevin Arnovitz
  
  It really isn’t all that complex. It’s a corner triangle on one side and a simple two-man game on the other. It’s totally doable. Would be terrific for Baron and Griffin, in particular.
  - http://deleted Q.D.
    
    This is also the team has a tough time just passing the ball into the post. But, you’ve talked me into the Turner pick as coach. Now, all we need is to draft Evan Turner.
    - Chris McD
      
      Turner + Turner would make me happy. I’d even be happy with one of the Turners.
http://www.twitter.com/HitFixGregory jgroove

Besides Jackson — whose ego is going to disqualify him before he walks in the door – what is the most common thread between all those candidates? They are cheap, cheap, cheap. I’m sure Casey is a fine coach, but you’re talking about a team that quit on Dunleavy after they were one win from .500 and quit on Hughes (who has shown he’s a true class act) before he coaches his first game. Someone needs to come in who the veterans (even if Baron is the only one left) will respect. Is that really Casey? Seriously? I doubt it.
- Beard The Curse
  
  But what do we have to lose? Besides games which we have no problem doing. Sometimes a lesser name (see Scott Brooks with OKC) can workout and if it doesn’t it’s much easier to cut them loose.
  - http://www.twitter.com/HitFixGregory jgroove
    
    Sure, cut them lose and another wasted season. That’s the Clipper’s spirit!
- TNT57
  
  Saw interview with Camby after his 30 point game and he said Brandon Roy and L. Aldridge are humble guys who work hard and always put the team first. His quote was, “This is a breathe of fresh air for me.” Ie. Baron Davis is a ball hog and a prima donna. We won’t ever win with Davis running the show…period.
  - avonhun
    
    Jump to conclusions much?
clipper george

What about Byron and Avery?
- kenji
  
  yeah, why is byron scott not even mentioned on this new list of candidates? And herb williams? seriously?
  - http://www.twitter.com/HitFixGregory jgroove
    
    Herb is a nice guy and was great playing 15 min a night to let Patrick Ewing rest. As a coach? Not so good.
    - Mike Wr
      
      Dude, you must be much younger than me. Herb was a very good player with the Pacers for a number of years before he was traded to Dallas and ended his playing career with the Knicks. I think it speaks well of Williams that he’s been an assistant with the Knicks under a number of head coaches. I agree with you, however, that the Clips have better choices.
Clipped12

I don’t really think things can get any worse as this point. I just hope that the Clippers luck out and fight the right coach to lead this team. We’ve been under Dunleavy for over 6 seasons. I’m just happy that we’re about to bring somebody new that’s not under the Dunleavy regime. Whether it’s Mark Jackson, Byron Scott, Elston Turner, or Dwayne Casey, I’m welcoming the fresh air. We have nowhere to go but up.
http://www.sportsciencelab.com pez

Why do i have a bad feeling it’s going to end up being mark jackson….
- Mike Wr
  
  Why the hate for Mark Jackson? He knows his basketball, has a strong personality and might be the kind of coach to shake up things. Last time TNT did a Clips game, I was impressed with his candor—talking about how talented BD is yet not coming to play every game for whatever reason. I just know when he was with the Pacers, he was like a coach on the floor and the other players deferred to his leadership.
  - Bongstradamus
    
    He’s got none, absolutely zero head coach experience. The only thing going for him is being a former player and being a PG. Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman actually have more time spent coaching a team than Mark Jackson has.
    
    That’s why I’m not on the Mark Jackson bandwagon, that and JVG reduces him to a mumbling yes-man whenever they call games together.
    
    Im sure Jackson could be a great head coach…after about 5 years experience. But if we want to turn this ship around, we shouldn’t be hiring a rookie coach unless its a former college stud. Mark Jackson needs to start assisting instead of calling games.
http://www.firedunleavy.com FD

It’s good they’re not in a rush. I think it will be better to wait to see what the team looks like next year and then hire a coach. Or let the big free agent have some say on who the coach will be. It will also be easier to get a good coach if the Clippers do land a big name.
- TNT57
  
  Lets bet 100 dollars that the Clips land no big name free agent. I’ll take anybody’s money. Rudy Gay doesn’t count and I’d bet 25 that they won’t even get him.
  - avonhun
    
    I’m starting to think this scenario is more and more likely. Get an inexperienced coach and then tell the fans “we tried to get top players but none wanted to come” and then rub it in our faces when we still go to games anyway. The west is REALLY GOOD right now. It would take 2 or 3 players for us to be better than okc, porland or any of the other “second tier” western conf teams. As much as I think MDsr was a crappy coach, he is still the only one who has gotten Sterling to open the check book. I’m afraid it might be closed for good now.
Bryant

I really think Byron Scott would be the best fit for us PROVIDED we also got rid of BD in the same breathe and bring in a facilitating PG…..We’re gonna have plenty of talent next year, last thing we need is a lazy, ball-hogging Baron Davis bringing the ball upcourt.
Kyle

Scott comes with some serious baggage. Jackson’s never coached before. Casey or Turner is the way to go.
http://www.versantewheels.com era

Trade Baron for Gilbert Arenas, I telling you the both sides will find a way to make it work. Also how is Shaun Livingston looking now. We could have kept him for almost nothing…Next year Shaun is going to be a beast
- http://www.firedunleavy.com FD
  
  Washington would never do that.
  - Bongstradamus
    
    Yes they would. Since they cant void the contract outright and he’s still getting paid for anther 5 years, they most certainly would move him They are getting a new owner and the PR drama from this season is reason enough for them to make the switch.
    
    They wouldnt however include Livingston. Baron and Gilbert they just might swap straight up. Theyd be happy to get out of Gilbert’s contract.
    - TNT57
      
      Gilbert is damaged goods. And I mean his body.
http://Lou Lou

B. Scott might be waiting for the Lakers… .
First2One00

would shaun really consider the Clippers though?? I know he might if the price is right.. but right now I would assume that we would be his last option out of the teams that will be calling him during the off season.
- Bongstradamus
  
  We did offer him money but he turned it down.
- TNT57
  
  Shaun is one bad twist away from being finished for good. DID YOU SEE HIS INJURY HAPPEN? He’s playing on borrowed time.
- humbleathletics
  
  i had the opportunity to speak with shaun the several hours before he was cut by the Thunder. he was in LA and dunked for the first time in a practice with oklahoma city. when he dunked, his coach told me he was starting to show signs of improvement. shaun said he is still not 100% but was feeling stronger by the day. the reason he was cut was to make room for maynor, not because he was not showing potential.
  
  he also told me that this is home and in a perfect world he would LOVE to come back to the clippers. he talked about how when he was here the team felt like they were as much LA’s team as the lakers (dont know about that, but thats how they felt). he also said kaman is the only player that was on his team so it feels a little weird coming back. but he obviously loved his time here and spoke like he is a clipper at heart.
mrnoluv

My prediction of the Clippers not winning more than 10 games after the allstar break was correct. Clippers management has done a great job of ruining another season. Now they will screw up on choices for a new coach I am sure. Of course Scott is who we want but I doubt it. I think hiring a coach will more than likely come after the draft and after we know who is coming here.
http://www.versantewheels.com era

Has anybody seen the new uniforms and if the colors have changed.. They need to.
- TNT57
  
  Why not change everything? The name, the colors, the mentality. Just say, “Hey, this isn’t working.” And start over.
  - Chris McD
    
    May as well move the team back to San Diego as well.
http://www.versantewheels.com era

Washington may do it with a throw in pick and maybe sign and trade one of our stiffs to go along with Baron
http://Lou Lou

Who is WE MrNoluv.
Dump Davis

The choice of the coach doesn’t matter if they’re still stuck with Davis.

Whatever it takes, the Clippers have to get rid of Davis. He’s ruined the team fo the last two years, and he’ll ruin it for the next three. All things considered, Davis may be the single most undesirable player in the league to have on a team.

So how are the Clippers ever going to get rid of him? No idea. Probably the best thing to do is pick up most of his salary when the y trade him, like the Angels did with Matthews.

The only thing I do know for sure, is that if the don’t get rid of him, it’ll be more of the terrible same for the rest of his contract. . .

. . . despite what Ralph Lawler tries to fool fans into thinking about Davis.
- Bongstradamus
  
  We traded all our talent away. We have 5 players under contract next year. We have a head coach who inherited this nightmare from Dunleavy and you want to pin this all on Baron?
  
  In the beginning of the year, it was Baron who was facilitating in the close games with playoff teams. He’s shown he can play at the level we need him to, but once everyone was gone and we got an interim rookie lame-duck coach what were you expecting? That wed go on a winning streak? Sorry man, the whole team checked out once Marcus was traded. He was the heart of our team, the core of our defense. Once that was gone, this team was effectively gutted. Trading Al Thornton away for peanuts was another stupid move since he was still on rookie scale, it wasnt like we were overpaying for his services. We gave away a whole lot of talent and leverage for RFA’s who will most likely be going to other teams in the offseason.
  
  Dunleavys final thrust was through this teams heart.
  - MGC
    
    Totally agree. The hatred for BD is scapegoating and inaccurate. It’s ridiculous to blame one person for the failings of the whole organization.
http://Lou Lou

DD

Everybody is tradeable except the guy from the Nicks, I forgot his name, Davis could be useful to a few teams. The problem is if the management does not think he is ruining the team as you said.
TNT57

TRADE EVERYBODY except GRIFFIN and GORDON. Take the money and sign 2 great players and then build through the draft for the next 3 years.
humbleathletics

MARC JACKSON. while i would love to have JVGundy based on his track record and defense first philosophy, i believe marc jackson will be a great coach in this league. more importantly he and olshey (if still the GM) have been good friends for ages. they are both NYC guys and have will definitely have a lot to talk about when the season ends.

Marc also gets along with the Donald. He told me a couple years ago that he would love to coach for sterling and his old team. he makes his home in LA and still has his daughter and youngest sons in school here. he is a known personality and could attract players to play for him

now for his merit, obiviously many people will trash the idea of him coaching by saying he has no coaching experience. i cannot argue this point. what i can tell you is that the winningest coach in NBA history Lenny Wilkens had zero coaching experience before he was the head coach in Seattle…the coach with the second most wins in NBA history Don Nelson had zero coaching experience before he was named coach and GM of the Bucks. in fact the coaches with the third and fourth most wins in NBA history, Pat Riley and Jerry Sloan combined for less than three full seasons of assistant coaching before they got their first head gigs. this fact has little statistical bearing on overall coaching ability.

Marc Jackson is a mover and master motivator of men. he is an ordained minister that understands what captures the heart of the modern day athlete. while he is a very religious person, he does not push his religion upon others. he will relate to these players better than any coach that has been here. after hearing the cries for john lucas to be the head man when he was hired, i believe that Marc Jackson encompasses all the positives lucas brings to the table. more importantly i believe he is a sharper basketball mind with a cooler disposition to confidently lead the group that currently constitutes the clippers roster. despite his coaching resume, the guy knows the game. he has not only played for, but started for and in most cases been the team captain and coach on the floor for Rick Pitino, Larry Brown, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan and JVGundy among others.

i would be interested to see who he would bring in as his assistants. so much of the teaching, scouting, development and preparation that goes on behind the scenes is what truly makes a team. the majority of this is done by the assistants. in fact the top organizations in basketball have the best equipment managers, trainers, assistant trainers, etc.. if he can put together a solid staff (and afforded the resources by the owner to pay them) i would take him in a heartbeat.

i have been fortunate enough to speak with many NBA coaches including Nate McMillan, Scotty Brooks, Larry Brown, and others. any time i have mentioned Marc Jackson’s prospects of being an NBA coach, they all rave about him. just think about the possibilities.

-stay humble
- http://www.twitter.com/HitFixGregory jgroove
  
  You seem to be remembering two things. Not that it matters now, but Jackson may have been one of the worst defensive point guards in the history of the NBA with the OLD hand check rules in effect. That being said he was a great offensive player, but I wouldn’t trust his defensive schemes whatsoever.
  
  Second, no one seems to recall or maybe it’s just common knowledge among Utah Jazz fans about what a pain in the a** and decisive player he was in their locker room. Word was he tried to convince the younger players at the time he should start over Stockton (who was still 10x the player Jax was then) and sulked whenever he was sent to the bench. Is that the mentality you want as your head coach?
  
  And does anyone listen to him on his telecasts and feel he’s an energetic or inspiring presence? Really? I’d take Casey and the other assistants before him.
  - humbleathletics
    
    his lack of footspeed and leaping ability has nothing to do with his defensive schemes or knowledge of defense. and him being a lousy defender is your opinion. it also happens to be an opinion not shared by larry brown, considered one of the best defensive coaches. to my knowledge scott brooks and scott skiles (two prominent names for coach of the year) have never made the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd NBA All – Defense teams. marc jackson being top 25 in NBA history in steals and charges taken does not speak poorly of his defensive ability.
    
    second, have you personally spoken to anyone that was in those jazz locker rooms? do you have any firsthand knowledge of promises that may have been made that were broken or the ability to discern pouting about playing time to frustration with your personal play. do i want a divisive player as my coach? hell no. do i want a sulker as my coach hell no? do i want a man who has matured through fatherhood and life after basketball, who is an incredible motivator, that can teach from his experiences good and bad, that can relate to the modern athlete and has an incredible wealth of basketball knowledge? hell yeah!
    
    if you think the marc jackson you see on TV is the same marc jackson you are getting in the huddle and on the practice court, you have no concept of entertainment and the role he plays in these telecasts. do you think van gundy is a clown at practice?
    
    marc jackson will bring an old school work ethic with the same flare he played with that will attract new players to play for him and make his current players a family.
    
    -stay humble

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