Black Thursday (and beyond): Coaches Getting Axed (VDN's turn)

[Who]

Two more heads roll off the chopping block this week.

Lance ("Shooting") Blanks out as GM in Phoenix:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9200972/phoenix-suns-part-ways-gm-lance-blanks-tough-season

Conventional wisdom says Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter will soon be handed his walking papers, too.

And this morning, Bobcats rookie coach Mike Dunlap is a one-and-done:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9203383/charlotte-bobcats-fire-coach-mike-dunlap-one-season

Charlotte's just awful. No direction, no plan, no future.

Excellent decision by Phoenix and by Charlotte.

Phoenix's front office has been the worst run organization in the league since Steve Kerr left three years ago.

And Mike Dunlap was clearly out of his depth in Charlotte. I believe the only reason there wasn't a full on mutiny against him was that there weren't enough veterans in the locker room. The young guys there were more willing to have an overbearing college type coach boss them around.

I'd love to see Charlotte bring in Nate McMillan. A very good coach. A local guy from Raleigh, North Carolina. Defense first. Builds strong foundations. Develops players. Teams overachieve. I think he'd be perfect for the Bobcats.

[Lucky17]

McMillan is the odds-on favorite right now for the vacant head coach job in Detroit. Would be a great fit there, I think. Perhaps by firing Dunlap, Charlotte hopes to make McMillan an offer.

Dunlap should never have been hired in the first place. Out of his depth starting Day One. Just a bad fit, and a poor front-office decision. That franchise may as well be called Sacramento East.

[celtsfan84]

Marc Stein is tweeting that the Cavs and Mike Brown have a handshake agreement, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

[Lucky17]

Marc Stein is tweeting that the Cavs and Mike Brown have a handshake agreement, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Just saw that too, over on RealGM.

Is Mike Brown going to collect two paychecks next year? Lakers are still on the hook, aren't they?

[celtsfan84]

Marc Stein is tweeting that the Cavs and Mike Brown have a handshake agreement, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Just saw that too, over on RealGM.

Is Mike Brown going to collect two paychecks next year? Lakers are still on the hook, aren't they?

I believe the earlier reports were that the Lakers bought out the remainder of his deal for $11 million.

[Lucky17]

Marc Stein is tweeting that the Cavs and Mike Brown have a handshake agreement, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Just saw that too, over on RealGM.

Is Mike Brown going to collect two paychecks next year? Lakers are still on the hook, aren't they?

I believe the earlier reports were that the Lakers bought out the remainder of his deal for $11 million.

Wow. So, the Lakers paid him over $2 million per game this season?

[mkogav]

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Mk

[Eja117]

At this point Michael Jordan should have to coach the team himself. I mean you either play musical chairs with your coach or you stop.

I'd be interested to see a team pull a top coach out of Euro league. The Pat Summit ship sailed.

[Celtics4ever]

At this point Michael Jordan should have to coach the team himself. I mean you either play musical chairs with your coach or you stop.

Talk about a recipe for failure, I think MJ knows he is not a coach and will never do it.  Great players rarely are good coaches ( Larry was an exception, Isiah and Magic were bad).  I think MJ would be in the former because he was such a gifted physical player.   Decent players make good coache (Phil come of mind) but a lot of the best coaches were guys who rode the pine and learned more from their coaches or PGs.

[Adelaide Celt]

Attn Mike Dunlap, your old job at the Adelaide 36ers is available again. Come on down!

[Lucky17]

It's apparently the end of an era in Minnesota:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9236287/david-kahn-president-basketball-operations-minnesota-timberwolves-report

Wolves are at a bit of a crossroads this offseason. Now is the time for the franchise to get serious, with Pekovic an RFA, Brandon Roy in limbo, and Kirilenko with a player option on his contract.

[jay]

Re: hate or Shaw



Question:  When Doc does decide to move on, who would you like to see replace him?  Keep in mind Doc coached at Orlando and played for the Hawks and Knicks.

I know the Lakers (not just a division rival like NY) are the mortal enemy, but Shaw was drafted here and I think he could turn out to be a good coach. 

[fairweatherfan]

So PJ Carlesimo is officially out as Brooklyn's coach.  What's the over/under on increasingly desperate voicemails the Nets have left Phil Jackson so far?

[Who]

So PJ Carlesimo is officially out as Brooklyn's coach.  What's the over/under on increasingly desperate voicemails the Nets have left Phil Jackson so far?

I would like to see them hire one of the Van Gundy's.

I can't see Phil Jackson being interested in that roster.

[fairweatherfan]

So PJ Carlesimo is officially out as Brooklyn's coach.  What's the over/under on increasingly desperate voicemails the Nets have left Phil Jackson so far?

I would like to see them hire one of the Van Gundy's.

I can't see Phil Jackson being interested in that roster.

Me either.  But I can see Prokhorov being very, very interested in Phil, and willing to offer enough to at least get him to listen. 

The logical place for Jackson would seem to be OKC, but there's no way they'll take GM power away from Presti, which is what Jackson is reportedly looking for.