ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday that Nate Bjorkgren‘s future as the Pacers‘ head coach is uncertain, and Shams Charania and Sam Amick echo that point in their latest report for The Athletic. According to The Athletic’s duo, Bjorkgren’s “abrasive” style and a tendency to be controlling with assistants and other staff members has been a cause for concern.
Sources tell Charania and Amick that multiple Pacers players have expressed dissatisfaction with Bjorkgren this season, with Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis among those who haven’t been on the same page with the first-year coach. Those same sources tell The Athletic that several Pacers players feel the analytical style Bjorkgren has employed doesn’t suit the team’s personnel.
The growing pains Bjorkgren has experienced in Indiana don’t necessarily mean that the Pacers will make a coaching change at season’s end, but the situation is worth keeping a close eye on, per Charania and Amick.
The two Athletic reporters also singled out a few other coaching situations worth watching around the NBA. Here are a few highlights from their report:
- The Trail Blazers are increasingly likely to part ways with head coach Terry Stotts this offseason unless he can “pull a rabbit out of his hat” and make a deep playoff run, according to Charania and Amick. Sources tell The Athletic that Stotts has less player support this season than he has in past years. Charania and Amick identify Jason Kidd, Dave Joerger, Chauncey Billups, Brent Barry, and – if he becomes available – Nate McMillan as potential targets for Portland if the team makes a change.
- There’s significant pressure on Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer entering the postseason, according to Charania and Amick, who say Budenholzer’s job will be in serious danger if the team is eliminated in the first two rounds. Budenholzer has one year left on his contract after 2020/21, per The Athletic’s duo.
- Luke Walton of the Kings and Scott Brooks of the Wizards are other coaches whose job security isn’t exactly rock solid, but Charania and Amick point to financial considerations in Sacramento and a recent hot streak in D.C. as factors working in favor of Walton and Brooks keeping their jobs. Walton has a strong relationship with Kings GM Monte McNair, while Brooks is well-liked in Washington, note Charania and Amick. Still, the long-term future of Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard is also somewhat uncertain, which further clouds Brooks’ status.
If coach Bud is sacked Blazers gotta get him.
The Blazers seem content to exit the playoffs early each year so sounds like a perfect fit.
Adding different players each year messes with a teams chemistry. They can’t expect to get 60 wins with so many moving parts each year. Coach Bud is a good coach. It’ll be a shame for the bucks to part with him
Pacers never should have fired Nate McMillan. I will never understand the mentality of firing a coach that consistently wins in an 82 game season, but loses in a 7 game series. Winning in the regular season is the end goal, but without it it doesn’t matter how well you coach in a 7 game series because you’ll never see one.
This is evident based on how well McMillan is currently coaching a talented Atlanta squad. I am of the belief the Pacers’ previous underachievement had more to do with injuries and a low offensive ceiling than poor coaching. The same problems plaguing Indiana are still rearing their ugly head. Unfortunately, Mcmillan’s defense isn’t there to save them (currently bottom 6 in points allowed)
They have fired some good coaches, not just McMillan, Rick Carlisle and Frank Vogel did even better than McMillan. Their injuries are pretty significant this year and they miss Dan Burke’s defense as much as anyone.
Bucks are doing whatever it takes to play Nets in the second round playoffs
if ted leonis keeps Scott Brooks bc westbrook managed to drag the team to the 10 seed, then the future of the wizards is utterly screwed
The future of the Wizards is utterly screwed, but not because of Scott Brooks. And you can’t credit Russ for dragging the team to the 10 seed. They’re in that spot despite him and his ridiculous obsession with averaging a meaningless triple-double every year his team (and teammates) allow it.
foh Russ is actually shooting more efficiently, and the younger guys (hutch, rui, Deni b4 his ankle snapped) were steady improving under his leadership. Scott Brooks will play guys like Anthony Gill for 20 minutes one game, and then play him zero minutes for the next week.
Actually he’s not shooting more efficiently. Russ shot a career-high 47% last season when he wasn’t allowed to stuff his stats in Houston. Now that he’s back on a team that doesn’t care about winning (just like OKC) he has returned to his old ways with his teammates enabling him to get his meaningless triple-doubles.
yeah, last year he only averaged 27,8,7. not even close to what he does every year now.
His 21.8 PPG is his lowest scoring average in 7 years.
I got Bud gone if the Bucks don’t reach the Finals.
Playoffs success is everything
If tanking is banned by nba,
20 coaches need to be fired as soon as possible
You don’t expect Cavs coach to win playoffs
Def think it’s time for these coaches to be let go. Luke n Brooks n particular, no questions asked done. bud if the bucks don’t win it all,.Scotts too but I kinda feel like it’s on the front office teams got glaring holes; nurk ain’t the answer at C, Sf position always been questionable, trade cj already? pacers deal idk shoulda kept Nate.
After the Pacers performance and coaching tonight against the Kings, get rid of them all. Never should have let Vogel or McMillan go.