As our recap of the NBA’s 2019 coaching changes shows, six teams conducted searches for permanent head coaches this spring. One of those teams stuck with its interim coach, as the Timberwolves opted to give Ryan Saunders an extension. However, the other five brought in new coaches. Here are the five new head coaches who will be on the sidelines for the 2019/20 season:
- Cleveland Cavaliers: John Beilein (former Michigan head coach)
- Los Angeles Lakers: Frank Vogel (former Pacers/Magic head coach)
- Memphis Grizzlies: Taylor Jenkins (former Bucks assistant)
- Phoenix Suns: Monty Williams (former Sixers assistant / Pelicans head coach)
- Sacramento Kings: Luke Walton (former Lakers head coach)
The Suns and Kings worked fast to fill the newly-opened spots on their respective benches. Sacramento zeroed in on Walton particularly quickly, reaching a deal to hire him just two days after firing Dave Joerger in April. Williams, meanwhile, was Phoenix’s top target and agreed to become the Suns’ new head coach even before his playoff run with the Sixers was complete.
Both Walton and Williams will take over young Western Conference rosters looking to take a step forward in 2019/20. Walton initially faced a similar task in Los Angeles when he presided over a young roster headlined by the likes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma, before the Lakers acquired LeBron James and the job description changed. As for Williams, he appeared to be a top target for the Lakers, but chose to join the lowly Suns instead, signaling that he sees potential in the team’s young core of Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, and Mikal Bridges.
After missing out on Williams and Tyronn Lue, the Lakers opted for Vogel, who has enjoyed success as a head coach in the past. While his stint in Orlando was forgettable, Vogel led the Pacers to consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Lakers will be looking to make a similar run this season.
The rebuilding Cavaliers and Grizzlies took their time with their respective searches, and both choices were a little surprising. There was a belief that Cleveland would be targeting a young, up-and-coming assistant to oversee the team’s rebuild, and while John Beilein has a strong track record in player development, the 66-year-old doesn’t exactly fit the bill of a young up-and-comer.
Jenkins, meanwhile, enters the 2019/20 season as perhaps the most anonymous head coach in the league. An assistant in Atlanta and Milwaukee under Mike Budenholzer, Jenkins doesn’t have any head coaching experience at even the G League level, so the 35-year-old will be thrown in the deep end in Memphis this season. It will be fascinating to see how he responds.
With the regular season around the corner, we want your opinion on this year’s head coaching changes. Which of these five new head coaches do you think will have the most short- and long-term success with his team? Which hire did you like most? Are there any you particularly disliked?
Vote in our poll, then head below to the comment section to weigh in with your two cents!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
The poll doesn’t even have Saunders as an option. ♂️
He died
As noted in the intro, he was an interim coach who stuck around rather than a new coach, so I didn’t consider him an “offseason hire.”
I wouldn’t be excited about any of these hires.
Vogel is a very good coach, but he’s in an untenable situation as a publicly second choice. Once they blew it with Lue (a questionable hire, too, in my opinion), there was no good hire. Best case of a bad scenario? Maybe.
Walton is probably a pretty good coach for a young team, and maybe a non-young team. But the Kings fired an excellent coach to hire him because… I don’t know why.
Beilein – great college coaches haven’t had a great NBA success for the most part. But Beilein isn’t a great college coach. He’s more all over the map. So, maybe this one will work out.
Monty Williams – I love Monty. He’s been a great assistant coach. His head coaching record is abysmal. So, I guess he’s a perfect fit for Phoenix, since they will lose a ton of games.
Winner by default: Taylor Jenkins (former Bucks assistant)
It’s a tossup between Vogel and Walton for the worst hire.
Anyone Lakers-related huh…
Can’t beat Monty.