As we outlined in detail earlier today, four NBA teams made head coaching changes this offseason. Those changes were as follows:
- Charlotte Hornets: Hired Steve Clifford to replace James Borrego.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Hired Darvin Ham to replace Frank Vogel.
- Sacramento Kings: Hired Mike Brown to replace Alvin Gentry.
- Utah Jazz: Hired Will Hardy to replace Quin Snyder.
The Hornets and Kings, two young teams looking to get back to the playoffs, took somewhat similar approaches in their hiring processes, landing on candidates who have plenty of previous head coaching experience and who have led lottery teams to the postseason in the past.
Between them, Clifford and Brown have coached 1,200 NBA regular season games. And despite having underwhelming rosters in Charlotte and Orlando, Clifford has led his teams to the playoffs in four of eight seasons. Brown’s clubs made the postseason in six of his seven full seasons as a head coach.
The Lakers and Jazz, meanwhile, took a different path, hiring veteran assistants who are becoming head coaches for the first time.
It’s an interesting choice for the Lakers, given that they have a veteran roster and title aspirations, but they believe Ham – a former player himself – can command the respect of stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis and won’t back down from making tough, necessary rotation decisions.
As for the Jazz, their new head coach – who is known for his player development skills – will be the league’s youngest. Hardy’s hiring was perhaps the first obvious signal that the team would be charting a new course this summer. After trading away standout center Rudy Gobert, Utah is either headed for a full-fledged rebuild or intends to reshape its roster around young star Donovan Mitchell. Taking the former route would make some sense based on Hardy’s skill set and the fact that he received a five-year contract.
Based on what you know about these four teams and their new coaches, we want to know which of this offseason’s head coaching hires you liked the best. Obviously, the expectations won’t be the same for all four coaches, so we’re taking potential long-term success and tenure into account, rather than just projecting which team will have the best record in 2022/23.
Which of these four coaches will be the most successful in his new job? Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
1. Jent (lead asst. coach) LAL
How is Darvin Ham going to win it when he has to coach toxic LeHomelander James and barely make it to the play-in?
…comparing LeBron to Homelander is one of the stupidest tales I’ve ever seen. Tell me you know nothing of LeBron without telling me you know nothing of LeBron.
Why is it a bad comparison?
Good take
Mike Brown lol
Lakers make it out of the play-in this year, lose in the first round. To the public, that’s a success.
Unfortunately you could say that for 22 teams a year. The play in rewards losing.
‘Best Hire’ and ‘Most Successful Hire’ aren’t the same thing.
I think Hardy is the best hire, but if they go full rebuild he’ll be the least successful of the four.
Exactly, which makes this poll hard to pick. Clifford may actually be the most successful if the Lakers keep Westbrick, but as a Charlotte fan I have no problem admitting he isn’t the best hire. I agree with you on Hardy, but he’s just going to have a terrible team to work with.
Yeah, “success” is somewhat subjective, and is relative to expectations.
For what it’s worth, if Hardy coaches the Jazz for the next 10 years, goes through a rebuild, and eventually gets them back to contention, I’d consider that more a successful run than if another coach only lasts 3-4 years, doesn’t make a deep playoff run, but has a better winning percentage.
That’s a good point, and I’d agree. It really depends on how the individual evaluates it. I’m not entirely convinced Hardy would last through a lengthy rebuild though only because most coaches don’t.