After a slow start to this year’s coaching carousel, three jobs have opened up over the past four days.
News broke Wednesday morning that Danny Ainge was stepping down as president of basketball operations for the Celtics and Brad Stevens had been selected to replace him. On Friday night, the Trail Blazers announced that Terry Stotts won’t return next year, and the Magic parted ways with Steve Clifford earlier today.
Decisions still have to be made about Scott Brooks in Washington and Nate Bjorkgren in Indiana, but for now the coaching rumors are focused on Boston, Portland and Orlando. All three jobs have some advantages as potential candidates consider their options.
The Celtics have two young foundation pieces in place with 23-year-old Jayson Tatum and 24-year-old Jaylen Brown both signed to long-term deals. Boston may try to trade Kemba Walker this summer, and a decision has to be made on free agent guard Evan Fournier. The team could also use an upgrade at center and a stronger bench, but Tatum and Brown should be enough to guarantee a playoff spot every year.
The Trail Blazers also have a solid foundation if they choose to keep it together. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are both under contract for the next three seasons, while Jusuf Nurkic has a partially guaranteed deal for next year. Norman Powell ($11.6MM) and Derrick Jones Jr. ($9.72MM) both have player options this summer and could be back even if they choose free agency. Portland has been to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, but has been knocked out in the first round four times in the past five years.
The Magic don’t have any stars in place, but they have a lot of young talent to build around. Jonathan Isaac, who is under contract through 2024/25, could develop into a franchise player if he can avoid injuries. He missed the entire season after tearing his ACL last August. Orlando is loaded with players 23 and under, including former No. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz and recent first-round selections Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke and Mohamed Bamba. The Magic unloaded most of their veteran talent at the trade deadline, but the future could be bright for a coach who’s willing to rebuild.
We want to get your input. Which of these situations offers the best opportunity for a new head coach? Please leave your answers in the comments section.
Brooks is garbage. He should’ve been toast long time ago.
Even though his team exceeded expectations, the only reason the Wizards would fire Brooks is because it’s always easier than getting rid of players.
Their problem isn’t Brooks, it’s Westbrook. But it’s impossible to trade him.
I’m no Westbrook fan but he’s the only reason the Wizards even made the play-in tournament.
WashDC is a tough sports environment IMO. There are other capital-type cities in the same boat… Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, London (until rich guys buying foreign stars came into play)… “blue-collar” towns might be the best.
But right now the wizrds should have more than enough talent to win, so making the playoffs is not a huge asset.
Is it wrong to put Brooks in the same category as the previous 76er coach and some player agents… too youth-oriented?
Pay him no attention, he’s just a sad Rockets fan that will bash anything not Rockets
Milwaukee is the best one, then Boston…
It seems like they will fire Budenholzer if/when the Bucks lose to the Nets.
Brooks is not the right coach defensively for the wizards. He allowed westbrick to have the green light and it led us to this point but it’s not totally his fault that the wiz roster doesnt have the depth to go beyond first round.
Orlando has two high picks this year right?— ORL & CHI. There are few remaining assets though Birch is the only one traded that bothers me. Seems like the FO could have gotten more picks. There will be losing until talent replenishes.
It’s mostly winners getting fired ’21.
That’s why coffee is only for closers
Best situation without a doubt, Celtics.
They have draft capital, 2 young all star caliber players along with former all star Kemba Walker. A defensive player of the year candidate Marcus Smart. Multiple good young players with high potential. They have a great legacy of success, they have a FA market which can attract players. Kemba’s deal is pretty bad but it’s not completely awful, not like your paying him 30 mil to sit on the bench, he does contribute.
What others options are there?
Washington, no cap space and stuck with ball hog Russ
Portland, again no cap space at all, having to try move pieces to get better, no amazing young talent.
Orlando, loads of young talent and cap space but no legacy, no stand out star player. Looks like long rebuild.
….
I’d argue one point you made on Boston- I don’t feel it’s an incredibly desirable FA destination. When a superstar hits the market rarely do you see them connected to Boston. Players don’t put the same emphasis on mystique and history the way they did at one point.
Boston has a lot going for it, for sure. I’m just not sure how they get that missing puzzle piece short of a trade, and that’s tough under the weight of expectations. As a coach, you’d win there. It’d also be the easiest job to be fired from for underachieving.
Boston and Portland jobs come with huge expectations, even though both teams are lacking important pieces and do not have too much flexibility. On the other hand, Orlando is not doing anything meaningful in the next few years, but their coach will have more room and freedom to try things and make a difference. For a young or unproven coach, Orlando is a better option, but someone like D’Antoni should prefer the other two openings.
Almost impossible to dump Kemba. Do not feel Ainge drafted nor built a good enough team around Tatum and Brown
No such thing as an untradable contract. Anyone can be traded as long as you are willing to attach them to other assets.
The Celtics should look into packaging several of their young bench players with Kemba for a better deal. Something like this perhaps
Clippers get
Kemba Walker
Carsen Edwards
Grant Williams
Celtics get
Marcus Morris
Patrick Beverley
Serge Ibaka (assuming he exercises his player option)
Maybe a draft pick or changes hands as well, but I think the deal is fine without them.
Easily, easily the MAGIC job is the best coaching vacancy.
The incoming coach will have some leeway, with the MAGIC having low-expectations being on a rebuild with all those young players. The MAGIC can have an incremental improvement, say make the East play-in and the season will already be a success for them.
I’d say Orlando, too. Yes it’s a rebuild, but it’s not a mess. They have young players, there aren’t a bunch of older vets you’d have to figure out what to do with… and absolutely no pressure here.
MAGIC has some nice pieces in this rebuild. Isaac, Fulz, Carter and Anthony – try to get more assets for Ross, Bamba and Harris (in case he doesn’t fit).
Like I said, low expectations for this team the next few years. Any coach who brings them within sight or in the play-in, would be celebrated.
I wouldn’t touch the Magic job with a 10 foot pole. There are only two types that will be interested in this job. A young coach with no experience or a retread that had a bad experience at his last job. Either way, whoever takes the job will likely just be a babysitter for the next three years while losing 80% of their games.
Brooks is the right guy ……need stronger bench and a big time small forward
The Celtics need a third piece, maybe can bounce back! What was the down fall of Danny Ainge’s plan was Gordon got hurt, Horford got old and was not worth the money, Kyrie could not handle the expectations of being the man! Singe had a great plan but it did not work out! Moving forward we don’t know what Langford and Nesmith maybe come! This team needs one good piece and a couple of vets like Marcus Morris! It’s going to be a tough needle to thread! I would start with Juan Howard as coach or Billups!
The Celtics need to first hire Juan Howard or Billups and then try to find a third piece! Maybe Walker can bounce back!
The Celtics are better off with an experienced coach, but will probably end up hiring someone like Jerome Allen or Billups. Either could end up being a solid coach but the first half season, at the least, would be a bumpy ride.
Wizards needs to trade russ
GSW should be on this smh #FIREKERR
Boston is the worst. The new HC is going to hired by, and have to answer to, the old HC, with a roster that carries over from multiple years. What coach with any kind of track record himself is going to find this attractive? None. He’ll likely hire a first time HC, perhaps from his own staff.