After getting through the 2017 offseason with no coaching changes, this year is providing much more action. We started a Head Coaching Search Tracker this week to help you keep up with all the latest developments on the coaching carousel.
Three teams currently have vacancies and three others are operating with interim coaches at the helm. Many of the top candidates are interviewing with multiple franchises, which raises the question of which is the best job currently available:
- The Hornets expected to be a perennial playoff team when they assembled their current roster, but they have missed the postseason for two straight years. Charlotte could be as much as $20MM over the cap next season with its current roster, so an overhaul is likely, but it’s hard to say who will be heading out. The Hornets have some talent with Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Dwight Howard, Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but their financial situation will limit their flexibility for at least another year unless some bold moves are taken.
- Despite having a string of lottery picks, the Magic haven’t shown signs of growing into a contender. Aaron Gordon is probably the best player on the roster, but he’s headed into restricted free agency, so his future in Orlando isn’t certain. Last year’s top choice, Jonathan Isaac, was limited to 27 games by injuries. The Magic have the fifth-best shot at the No. 1 pick in the lottery, but the franchise is likely looking at a long rebuilding process.
- The Knicks are trying to escape a dysfunctional era that brought down Jeff Hornacek after just two seasons. New York’s major assets are Kristaps Porzingis, who isn’t expected back until at least December after tearing his ACL, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Enes Kanter can opt out of an $18.6MM salary, so he may not be back next season. New York is ninth entering the lottery and won’t have significant cap room until next summer, so it’s another situation where the front office will have to be patient.
- The Grizzlies strung together seven straight playoff appearances before an injury to Mike Conley brought down this season right after it started. Management is confident that Conley and Marc Gasol can still be the core of a playoff team, especially if Chandler Parsons can come back healthier and a decent lottery pick is added. Those three contracts will eat up a huge amount of Memphis’ cap room for at least the next two season, so any improvement is going to have to come from within.
- The Suns feel like they’re headed in the right direction with Devin Booker and T.J. Warren joined by the returning Brandon Knight and promising rookie Josh Jackson. Phoenix could have more than $30MM in cap room if it renounces Alex Len and Elfrid Payton, which could make the team a force in the free agent market. The Suns have the best lottery odds and no burdensome long-term contracts other than the expected extension for Booker.
- The Bucks are the only playoff team on the list after firing Jason Kidd midway through the season. They have an MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo signed through the 2020/21 season, with an impressive collection of young talent surrounding him in Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker and Thon Maker. Milwaukee is capped out this summer and Parker will be a restricted free agent, but the financial situation eases significantly heading into the future.
We want to get your opinion. If you were a candidate for all six of these jobs, which one gives you the best chance to succeed? Please jump into the comments section below and give us your feedback.
I’d want to coach CHA or NYK. You’d be working with an All Star(Kemba or KP), strong rebounding bigs(Dwight or Kanter assuming they both return), plus high draft picks coming this year.
Phoenix because of their youth cap and picks but Milwaukee is right there
I would remove the Suns and add the Hawks to the list. Looking like coach Bud is gone and heading to Phoenix. Then it becomes between the Hawks or Bucks for best available job for me…I’d give edge to hawks based on upcoming draft, new GM, Owners and Facilities. Plus location (of course I’m biased on all of that)
Hawks, Bucks, Suns
Budenholzer will be at one of those posts. If he moves Atlanta is the best choice.
Good question HR, do it again after the firings are done!
Milwaukee first
Phoenix second
Knicks would and should be first, but enter Dolan/Mills/Perry and you’re already one foot out the door.
1. Bucks
2. Suns
3. Hornets
4. Grizzlies
5. Knicks
6. Magic
The Bucks are the closest to a complete team. Should be a playoff team for several years. The Suns have a good jump on a decent rebuild if they can keep Booker around. The Hornets are iffy for me, if they keep the majority together with a couple of tweaks they could be right back in the playoffs. If they start a rebuild they would fall to #6 because that will be a long process. The Grizzlies are about the same as the Hornets for me, but they seem to be slightly leaning more toward a complete teardown. The Knicks have been and probably always will be a complete train wreck. If I had a choice of almost any other job, I would avoid them. The Magic seem like they are going to be the new Timberwolves. They look like they could be in the lottery for the next 10 years unless they get lucky a couple of years in a row. But they have been just not good at drafting recently, so it doesn’t seem like luck will be on their side.
Bucks and Knicks are top 2. Magic are the worst.
Bucks have a great up and coming team. New York is the best atmosphere and for the first time in a century they have a GM who isn’t an idiot, and the foundation to really improve.
Magic are the worst because the owner and GM seem to be deluded about how (not good) the team actually is.
GM isn’t an idiot? He was fired in Orlando for putting together a team of misfit toys, and Sacramento traded him only a couple of months in for a useless 2nd rounder.
Right now, Suns look interesting. Booker, Jackson, Warren, and most likely Ayton and a couple of other first rounders to fill the roster. Young talent in abundance makes the coaching job look attractive.