Of the new coaching hires so far, which is the worst pairing? Mike D'antoni/Houston Rockets Jeff Hornacek/NY Knicks David Fizdale/Memphis Grizzlies Nate McMillan/Indiana Pacers Luke Walton/LA Lakers Tom Thibodeau/Minnesota Timberwolves Frank Vogel/Orlando Magic Scott Brooks/Washington Wizards Kenny Atkinson/Brooklyn Nets Dave Joerger/Sacramento Kings
Larry Bird meant to hire Mike D'Antoni (or similar) Daryl Morey meant to hire Nate McMillan (or similar) Bird: We need a new voice. I want to play smaller, faster, more uptempo, shoot more threes — hires turtle/assistant Nate McMillan Morey: "I think it’s going to be someone who embodies what we need which is to get our defense stronger." — hires Mike Anthony
D'Antoni is not likely the worst coach on that list, but some of the rookies who will coach worse them him are on teams that aren't competitive anyways and just need a developmental guy to prep for them to bring in a win now coach in 3 years. D'Antoni has the biggest negative impact on his team's title contention status. (If you count dropping Vogel as part of the McMillan hire, then than one. But I don't.)
The Indiana, Washington, and NY hires were more puzzling to me than D'antoni (maybe I've let him grow on me already). As much as I wonder if D'antoni can win the respect of the locker room and convince them to play both sides of the court; I also wonder if Walton is going to be able to deal with the young Lakers and if Thibodeau's tough practices and discipline will be too much for the egos of the Wiggins and Towns.