NBA Takes: Special Edition – The saga of mutually parted ways coaches
First-round exits have seen several coaches “mutually” parting ways with their teams. The same coaches go from team to team. It’s time to find out if the team is not a fit or the man.
Seven NBA coaches have “mutually parted” ways with their teams. The same coaches move around from NBA team to NBA team, season after season. Some I expected some of the changes might happen, and a couple of others totally caught me totally by surprise.
The mutual partings we expected
- Scott Brooks, Washington Wizards – contract ended. No extension. Scott Brooks, whose record after five seasons was 183-207. During that time, Brooks took his team to the playoffs three times, getting to the second round just once, in 2016-17. Now, in addition to finding a new coach, the Wizards organization has to make sure their star player, Bradley Beal, is happy. Beal’s contract is up after next season.
- Steve Clifford, Orlando Magic – Clifford was Orlando’s coach for the past three seasons. When Orlando let Clifford go, I mean mutually parted ways with the Magic, he took the Magic to the playoffs every year until this season. Once the team decided on a complete rebuild, trading Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier for draft picks, they didn’t think Clifford was the right man for the job. He wasn’t in “alignment,” which is a new one for me.
- Nate Bjorkgren, Indiana Pacers – fired. This was not a mutual parting; Indiana fired him. Ironically Bjorkgren was brought in to replace Nate McMillan, the interim head coach of the fifth seed Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks defeated the fourth seed Knicks and the first seed Philadelphia 76ers. They are in the Eastern Conference finals.
- Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics – He’s the Celtics’ new General Manager. Truthfully I expected a mutually parting, but former GM Danny Ainge took that hit.
Stan Van Gundy says goodbye to the New Orleans Pelicans.
C’mon. It’s hard to imagine that Stan Van Gundy, after just one year with the New Orleans Pelicans, marched into David Griffin’s office and said, “you know what, I think that after the year we’ve had, I want to mutually part ways” If you believe that, then I want some of the tea you’ve been drinking. I also have a bridge to sell you.
Van Gundy might have said that. He wasn’t pleased with some of his team’s losses. Remember when he called them “soft?” That was harsh.
Now Zion Williamson‘s family wants him on another team… Not the Knicks, choke or not, we’re keeping No Handle Randle. Seriously, there were some rough waters between the team and their coach. Williamson and Brandon Ingram complained that there were not enough plays where he and Zion could feed off one another. But, they are the stars, and if they’re not happy.