Links to the Present: Coaching Search
2014-06-12
The Cavs coach search is still going on, and it seems like there isn’t a clear cut favorite for the position. New candidates are being added almost daily. Chris Haynes of Comcast Sports is reporting that Nate McMillan, a Pacers assistant coach and former head coach of the Blazers and Supersonics, has been talked about as a possible coach for the Cavs.
Being that the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are the only two teams currently without a head coach, I think it’s safe to speculate that they inquired about McMillan.
Haynes reached his conclusion about Nate because the league said there had been contact with the Pacers about him interviewing with teams. The Cavs and Lakers are the only teams still without a coach.
The Cavs should be adding one more name to the mix, George Karl. It keeps coming up that he hasn’t interviewed with the Cavs but wants the job. He’s a winner and way more innovative than most coaches. His last team was centered around Ty Lawson sprinting, and the Nuggets were even Western Conference sleepers at the beginning of his last season in 2012. Mike Mayer at Fear the Sword captures my thoughts on Karl exactly.
George Karl is not young, nor is he thought of as particularly innovative (at least not in the way that a guy like Blatt is considered to be innovative). But he is proven. He’s not sexy, but he’s a winner. And that should be enough to earn him consideration.
He could still earn an interview though. It took the Cavs a lot longer than expected to interview Mark Price. Price would be another great fit for the Cavs. He has the Cleveland media blushing already. Jeff Yoder of Bleacher Report would be ecstatic if Price ended up back in Cleveland.
In the best-case scenario, Price gives Kyrie the convincing he needs to stay in Cleveland long term and the tools to take the Cavs deep in the playoffs for many years. In the worst-case scenario, Price resurrects Cleveland—simultaneously with Johnny Manziel—and has a few decent playoff runs before getting sent out of town like Mark Jackson with Golden State. Either way, Cleveland needs Mark Price.
In the coming days, more coaches are sure to be brought into the coaching search. Miami assistant, David Fizdale, has been brought up as a candidate, so it’s hard to imagine the Spurs’ various assistants not being contacted after the Finals. The Cavs just need to remember the high level assistants don’t come with their former teams’ Superstars.
I think George Karl + Mark Price is the recepie to success for Cavs organization , it would be a mistake to hire anybody else at this junction. God forbid if they hire Blatt, first this guy doesn’t know the NBA players and their mentality, second it’s is a total different ball game than Europe , you got to be able to communicate on their level and none of the coaches that they interviewed so far except Gentry will be able to win with such a young and dynamic roster. It’s a Cleveland thing that when they are close, they… Read more »
I’d rather see Karl in some kind of VP position, and available for advice if we get a first time HC.
BTW, it is becoming more clear that the Spurs system and coaching are miles ahead of the Heat.
Without LeBron, the current Heat would be lucky to make the playoffs.
I love this talk of Carmello going to the Heat for next year: Everyone takes a pay cut, Wade can hardly play anymore, Bosh is on the bench, LeBron won’t get to shoot because CA is gunning away. What could possibly go wrong?
Would Karl accept an assistant-HC job?
Anyway, why not dream big – Karl, Blatt AND Price (HC, defense, offense)
All these coach possibilities flying around Cleveland is making me dizzy.
I’d be happy with Karl, hollins or Jackson as HC and deff want Price as at least an asst.
I’m becoming less and less a fan of Karl as coach. He’s no more a winner than any other available coach that hasn’t won a championship. The difference with him is that he’s had many many many more seasons of opportunity to win one – but never has. I’d rather a younger coach ala Gentry or McMillan or Marck Jackson (who apparently we recently reached out to) than Karl. These guys haven’t won either, and they had many fewer opportunities to win. I’m not a fan of Jackson from the standpoint that he didn’t seem to have that innovative a… Read more »
I didn’t think Mayer’s article was very good. I don’t know how you could coach that Nuggets team to 57 wins by playing 10 guys at a breakneck pace and then be labeled as “not very innovative.”
If Karl was such a great innovator, how come he couldn’t come up with a scheme to keep Ben Poquette from being on the court with his shorts halfway up his ass?
I was very much warming up to the idea of Blatt as head coach. In the very near future (like within the next hour), he is supposed to be holding a press conference to announce that he is leaving Macabbi Tel Aviv to come coach in the NBA. It’s not known if he is accepting a specific position at that time. If he is, there are no signs suggesting it will be to become the next Cavs head coach unless we are sending up crazy smoke signals for some reason. Gentry is to come in tomorrow for a 2nd interview… Read more »
Although Stein has since added that Macabbi insiders expect Blatt to announce that he is coming to the NBA, but not specifically where yet. (“so, you’re saying there’s a chance???”)
“Sources” report that Blatt said he won’t come to the NBA “for a mere assistant coaching job”
Same Stein piece I believe. So it might come down to the dumpster fire lake show or Cleveland. I hope it’s us and we get Price as an asst.
Different Stein piece, actually. Stein just recently updated report with quotes from Blatt saying that “it’s complete BS” that he wouldn’t consider a NBA assistant gig. Says he was misquoted and never said that at all.
David Blatt will announce he’s leaving for NBA, but still talking w/ Warriors for top assistant and Cavs for head coaching job per Woj at Yahoo. OK, I officially feel better now.
Carmelo will never play in Miami. Bosh has all but removed himself from being considered a HOF’er because of his jumping on the Lebron, Wade love-fest. He has taken a pay cut, a smaller roll in the offense and has been looked at as the weakest link on this club for years. Spice Bosh, The Big 2.5, etc. He has paid the highest price of anyone regarding credibility and clout. All Blame no praise. I watched the Lebron interview where James voiced his concern regarding first year in Miami, he went on to speak about how Wade and James both… Read more »
In my decades of management experience every time my bosses insisted on many interviews and then 2nd interviews it led to the best talker getting hired and never the best candidate.
Hopefully we end up with someone smooth enough to be independent of Gilbert and able to a partner, instead of a subordinate, with David Griffin.
Wow, George Karl is “a winner and way more innovative than most coaches” but George Karl “is not young, nor is he thought of as particularly innovative.” That’s innovative sports writing!
Also, it doesn’t look like any team pursued Karl very much this offseason. Maybe there’s something we don’t know (demanding team president status, demanding too much money, etc.). Either way, I doubt Cavs are choosing him, so some of the bloggers here may need to prepare themselves for some disappointment.
How many coaches could have gotten that Nuggets team into the playoffs? If price is an object for him, I’m sure Gilbert is willing to pay whatever. You’re probably right about him wanting too much power.