Woj: Celtics will consider assistant Jay Larranaga, other youthful candidates

[j804]

The Boston Celtics will consider several younger and lower-profile candidates for the franchise's coaching vacancy, including assistant coach Jay Larranaga, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

After two seasons as a head coach in the NBA Development League, Larranaga, 38, made a strong impression on coach Doc Rivers and the Celtics' front office during the 2012-13 season.

Larranaga will coach the Celtics' summer league entry in Orlando, allowing general manager Danny Ainge a better look at him.

With Rivers and his $7 million salary headed to the Clippers, the Celtics are moving into a rebuilding phase. They expect to have a young roster and no longer want to pay an elite coach's salary.

Rivers also has a strong interest in bringing Larranaga to the Clippers as part of his coaching staff, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Larranaga reached the playoffs in each of his two seasons with Erie of the D-League and set a team record with 32 victories in a season. Before getting the assignment in Erie, he played 12 seasons of professional basketball in Europe, including a stint as player-coach for the Irish National team.

Larranaga spent the summer of 2012 as an assistant coach on the Ukraine national team under former longtime NBA head coach current basketball broadcaster Mike Fratello.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--celtics-will-consider-assistant-jay-larranaga--other-youthful-candidates--for-head-coaching-job-155145849.html

[rondohondo]

Not sure what kind of system laranaga would run, but he has had some pretty good success . I would be ok with this since he seems to be able to develop young talent.

oops thought you meant the other laranaga

[WeMadeIt17]

Would be interesting. Young coach at 38 we'll see.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Very interesting. Home grown (system wise) coach who's probably known by the players could always be a good thing.

But, looking for young prospects he said, well...

The Brad Stevens bandwagon makes a stop at this thread.

Young, check.
Detail oriented, check.
Great motivator, SUPER check (see his teams who made NCAA)
Upside, check.

How about Danny considering this guy, huh?

[Evantime34]

If he was coaching in the d league for the last two years it's probably fair to assume he's good with young players. Hey even Fab played well at time in the d league last year, maybe Laranaga can get something out of him.

Next year development of players will be more important than wins.

[rondohondo]

well i am pretty sure we are tanking

Might as well hold Rondo and sully out until at least xmas.

Dwight Howard who is much more athletic should have been held out longer this year, he had the same surgery as Sully, and wasn't nearly himself until a few months in , not as explosive .

TANK TANK TANK!

[lightspeed5]

austin ainge was the coach of the red claws too

[WeMadeIt17]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqypm64EQrE


Here ya go.

[kozlodoev]

If he was coaching in the d league for the last two years it's probably fair to assume he's good with young players.

His NBA.com profile says that during his tenure as a HC, eight different players got NBA callups. Not too bad.

http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/coaches/jay-larranaga.html

[fairweatherfan]

Wouldn't mind him at all - seems like a good fit for the new direction.  He's Jim Larranaga's (George Mason's Cinderella run, and current Miami coach) son too, so he's grown up around coaching.

[gpap]

I have no clue who this guy is.

And all of a sudden, I have a scary feeling about where this season is headed.

I was a lot happier when I read that Stan Van Gundy was a possible candidate.

Jay Larranga? I couldn't tell him apart from the guy selling pretzels in the section 6 concession stand at the Garden.

[feckless]

I am shocked that with Danny's finger all over this that Austin Ainge is not the front runner. Some of you guys see Danny as a genius Machiavelli re-incarnated..nepotism I am sure would be a strong motive for this whole slimy mess of Danny's.

[Tgro]

well i am pretty sure we are tanking

Might as well hold Rondo and sully out until at least xmas.

Dwight Howard who is much more athletic should have been held out longer this year, he had the same surgery as Sully, and wasn't nearly himself until a few months in , not as explosive .

TANK TANK TANK!

That's pretty much the first thought that went through my head when I read this. I seriously doubt there are ANY aspirations on keeping the remaining core in check and adding pieces to run it back 1 more time without Doc. This looks like a Tank Job for 2013/14 and see what we got going into 2014/15. 

[JSD]

Just offer Jason Terry the job, he an get his foot in the door and we an get rid of his contract.

[rondohondo]

Just offer Jason Terry the job, he an get his foot in the door and we an get rid of his contract.

I would like that ,but he would have to accept a buyout , and it would still count against the salary for next year .

Terry has head coach written all over him.