Job security is a rare thing for NBA coaches, as Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron examined earlier this week. Eight of the 30 teams have changed coaches since the end of last season, and every underachieving team lives with the understanding that its coach could be on the way out.
The Nets‘ Lionel Hollins was the most recent victim, getting fired on Sunday after a 10-27 start. He became the second coach to lose his job this season, following the Rockets‘ Kevin McHale, who was replaced in November following a 4-7 start, even though he led his team to the Western Conference Finals last season.
The Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the Pelicans’ Monty Williams were both dismissed during the offseason despite guiding their teams to the playoffs. Other coaches fired over the summer were the Thunder’s Scott Brooks and interim coaches James Borrego in Orlando and Melvin Hunt in Denver. The Wolves turned to Sam Mitchell as their new coach after the death of Flip Saunders in September.
This brings me to the question for today: Which NBA team should be next to make a coaching change?
Philadelphia, the team with the league’s worst record, gave Brett Brown a two-year contract extension in December, so he seems safe. Twelve of the teams in the Eastern Conference are within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot, so any changes there seem unlikely. That leaves the Nets and the Bucks, who are a disappointing 17-25 and whose coach, Jason Kidd, is on a medical leave of absence after undergoing hip surgery.
Out West, Byron Scott has been on the hot seat as the Lakers have sunk to the bottom of the conference. Jeff Hornacek’s Suns have lost 12 of their last 13 and are now 13-28. The Pelicans got off to a terrible start under new coach Alvin Gentry and are 13-26. George Karl has been through a controversy-filled first season in Sacramento, and the Kings are currently outside the playoffs at 16-23.
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
The Lakers appear committed to keeping Byron Scott through the end of the season, but his future is up in the air after that. In the near term, I’m not certain that Jeff Hornacek will be able to hold off the ax much longer. The problems the Suns are having aren’t his fault, but I don’t think it was the fault of assistant coaches Mike Longabardi and Jerry Sichting when they lost their jobs last month.
Next is probably hornacek. Scott,sadly, will be kept until the end of the season.
I think the Lakers should give Scott the ax. His team is awful and him benching Russell isn’t helping
The Kings need Karl if for no other reason than to bring some (however tenuous) stability to the revolving door of recent years. What Karl needs most is some defensive players…. trade talk of Rudy… well, I can understand it as McLemore (who really needs to go somewhere else… doesn’t have much trade value) Gay’s solid enough on offense, maybe the cloud of “trade” will inspire some more effort. The buzzer beater was nice… but maybe just more showcase for trade talks… Kings should start Cousins, Rondo, Gay, Caspi and Acey… work with that and strengthne the bench with trades
Scott should get the ax, but for the young players, they should wait til the offseason to make that move unless they promote an assistant to interim. Attempting to change schemes mid season (by signing a new coach to long term deal) would hurt the young guys more than keeping Scott.
Pacers, I like Vogel but he clearly doesn’t know what to do with the team he has currently.