Since Clifford is the coach of the Bobcats now and Sampson the front runner for the Bucks job. Lead Assistant is now vacant, so who are the potential replacements for Sampson??? My vote is to go after Avery Johnson Reasons: #1 Championship pedigree as player and coach - motivator and communicator #2 Can help Jeremy Lin -- similar career path minus the "Linsanity" teach Lin to be a better point guard in the off season and training camp (turned Harris into a good point guard why not Lin) #3 Already lives in Houston --- lame I know but whatev What you guys think of Avery Johnson coming on board???
I don't think Dream has any interest in a coaching job. He has made himself an EXTREMELY wealthy man with his real estate investments.
Yeah, I figured. How about a specialist post-up trainer for our big men. Doesn't need to travel with the team.
Please not Avery Johnson. I hate hate hate hate hate hate HATE Avery Johnson. That guy managed to convince a few people he was head coach material and got promoted over legitimate coaches who had been paying dues for years. And he hasn't shown anything as a head coach to make me think he deserves a spot as an assistant. Plus we'd have to hear that voice occasionally on a telecast. No thanks.
No, no, no. No need to bring in someone that could potentially hamper the dynamic of the coaching staff. You would most likely see the assistants moves up into larger roles, and Nick Nurse of the Vipers would most likely be moved up to the big leagues to take an assistant role. #2 in command would probably be Bickerstaff.
I still don't see how any of this benefits the Dream. I assume he isn't anywhere near interested in a coaching job of any capacity outside of his pay-per-practice 1-on-1's...
If the Rockets are luck enough to keep Bickerstaff and Finch, I believe you will see them take on a larger role.
Chris Finch might end up as HC under GM Hinkie in Philly to create Moreyball East. Nurse may be moving up from the D-Leagues alright, but not to the Rockets. According to a tweet from Yahoo's Woj, Nick Nurse is one of two people under consideration for an assistant coach slot on the Toronto Raptors. The Rockets can't interview Nurse since there's no opening at the moment till one of the current assistants leave. By that time, Nurse might already be gone to Toronto. His stock is high from winning the d-league playoffs.
If you think that the Rockets have not discussed an assistant coaching job with Nick Nurse, I have some swamp land to sell you. The Rockets are not stupid and will not admit they have had contact.... but they have. If you want to know the attitude of the Rockets brain trust, all you have to do as look at the history of people in the organization....... look at Sampson and McHale, both have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.