Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo via Wikimedia
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.
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.
I can’t believe Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey. After he and Stotts “mutually parted,” the GM had a press conference where proceeded to throw Terry so far under the bus that the basketball world may never hear from him again. Olshey will have some explaining to do to Damian Lillard. If he doesn’t please Dame, maybe he too will be mutually parting.
According to Olshey, it wasn’t the roster’s fault that the Blazers exited the first round, again. It was all on Stotts. But did Terry trade for or give up draft picks for players to play around Lillard? The winner of the 2020 offseason was all you, Neil.
Lillard’s new teammates didn’t answer the call. That was not Stotts’ fault. But again, that was all you, Neil. Getting good players and getting good players to mesh with your star are two different things.
Will Dame Time move on? Upon hearing of the mutually parting Stotts, Lillard told Olshey he wanted Jason Kidd to be his next coach. Kidd declined right away. (He wants to be the Lakers’ coach, I bet). According to Olshey, they will get a coach who works on both ends of the court. We’ll see.
Olshey is looking for a defensive-minded coach who will work with the Blazers’ dynamics. Unfortunately, the cycle of first-round exits won’t end with a new coach. I think it’s time for Portland Trail Blazers ownership to say goodbye to Neil Olshey.
This is the news that turned this whole piece around. Coaching changes almost make for much better news than the playoffs.
On Thursday, Rick Carlisle walked into Mark Cuban’s office and said, “I won’t be returning to coach next season.” Carlisle walked away with two years remaining on his contract. According to sources, he didn’t say why just bye. Days before that, the Mavs front office “mutually parted ways” with General Manager Don Nelson, who had worked with the organization for over 20 years!
More than likely, Carlisle left because 1) the players were unhappy with their first-round exit, and 2) Some say he didn’t get along with team star Luka Doncic. I hear there are others (Kristaps Porzingis) he doesn’t like.
Meanwhile, it took less than two weeks for Carlisle to land a new gig in Indianapolis.
There had been rumors (sometimes I think the NBA is run on rumors) that there was trouble (right there in Dallas city) in the Mavs front office between owner Mark Cuban and Nelson. Cuban had this to say after Nelson was let go,
“Donnie has been instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas. His hard work, creativity and vision made him a pioneer. Donnie will always be a part of the Mavs family and I wish him all the best.”
Don Nelson brought you Dirk Nowitski and scouted the Slovenian Luka Doncic since he was 14 years old. Dallas’ only championship was a product of Don Nelson and Rick Carlise’s hard work! There is talk that Haralabos Voulgaris was diminishing Nelson’s role. Voulgaris is the team’s director of quantitative research and development, and Doncic doesn’t like him.
I looked it up, for those like me, who have no idea what a quantitative research and development director does. From Sage Research Methods, I found this:
The purpose of quantitative research is to generate knowledge and create understanding about the social world. Quantitative research is used by social scientists, including communication researchers, to observe phenomena or occurrences affecting individuals. Social scientists are concerned with the study of people. Quantitative research is a way to learn about a particular group of people, known as a sample population.
This was the only definition I could understand. So the Mavs are using this to study the social interaction of their players. Huh?
The Brooklyn Nets, the Eastern Conference’s second seed, and quite frankly the team who was supposed to bring the title back to the Atlantic Coast, were eliminated by the third seed Milwaukee Bucks. I thought Brooklyn assistant Mike D’Antoni would eventually take over for Steve Nash because the first-year head coach looked a little over his head in Game 7.
Mike is a candidate for the head coach job in Portland. Kevin Durant played high-intensity minutes and made it look easy until overtime. Then KD’s fatigue showed down the stretch. A more experienced coach might have found a way to spread the load better.
Even more surprising, the first seed Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated by the fifth seed Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta is currently coached by their interim headman, Nate McMillan. Needless to say, Mr. Sonic is due for a promotion to the Hawks head coach.
Doc Rivers might get a pass since this is his first year in Philly. Don’t forget Doc was the coach of a beleaguered LA Clippers team who could never find their way out of the first round. His replacement, Ty Lue, has the Clips in the Western Conference Finals.
Maybe it’s time to stop playing musical chairs with some of the same old coaches. Younger players are rapidly taking over and are demanding more control. In the next edition of NBA Takes, we will look at some promising assistant coaches considered for the next step. These early postseason coaching changes are more exciting than the playoff games themselves. Look for more names to join the “mutually parted” list after the NBA Finals.
Stay tuned with NBA Takes as we follow the coaching changes. Stay safe and healthy!