Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
By now it is old news that the NJ Nets used the franchise’s All Time winningest coach, Lawrence Frank, as a scapegoat for their now infamous 0-17 start. Actually it is now former assistant coach Tom Barrise’s name which will appear in the record books since he took over for the club for loss number 17 against the LA Lakers. Then in an ever popular move these days, GM Kike Vandeweghe, took over the Head Coaching duties on an interim basis.
Vandeweghe should stick to the head office, where he actually has a very good track record by being credited with the construction and resurgence of the Denver Nuggets franchise. He is known around the league as one of the good guys in the NBA. Why ruin his reputation. He must have a short memory since the move from GM to coach rarely ever works, especially without any head coaching experience under his belt. How have things worked out with Tony DiLeo in Philly, Kevin McHale in Minnesota, or Don Nelson in Golden State? If he really has the Nets best interest at heart, he will find a suitable sideline general to weed out the good from the bad in a lame duck roster. After all, isn’t Lebron coming next year?
Here are my best options for the next NJ Head Coach:
1) Patrick Ewing – As the former “King of New York” basketball as a player for the NY Knicks, Ewing still has a tremendous following in the NY/NJ Metro Area. He also is considered one of the up and coming coaches around the league. Ewing has been an assistant coach with the Magic since ’07, and is credited with the impressive development of Dwight Howard. Imagine what he could do for Brook Lopez, who is already nearing a double-double each night. As one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, he has tremendous experience at the game’s highest level, including going to the Finals as a player and coach. He has learned from some of the best – John Thompson, Pat Riley, and Don Nelson. I won’t mention Stan Van Gundy, who’s not on my best coaches list.
2) Mark Jackson – As a NY native and Knick legend, the fans will also give Jackson time to mold a young team. In my opinion, he is one of the Top 5 point guards in the last 30 years of the NBA. His numbers back that up since he is 3rd All Time in assists. What a great mentor for Devin Harris? I honestly don’t know why he hasn’t been plucked from the broadcast booth for one of the many head coaching vacancies in recent seasons. Jackson talks like a coach, and has the knowledge and pedigree to be a great head coach someday. Point guards usually make for excellent sideline generals(see Doc Rivers, Byron Scott, and Scott Skiles). I’ve got to admit that I would miss hearing “Momma there goes that man” references during ESPN broadcasts.
3) Reggie Theus – As the stereotypical “Players Coach”, Theus hasn’t been given the chance to succeed at the NBA level like he has in college. He took a downtrodden New Mexico State squad all the way into the NCAA Tourney. As the head man for the Sacramento Kings in the ’07-’08 season, he led a roster barren of any talent to 38 wins, then was canned after a 6-18 start last season. One season is hardly enough time as a measuring stick to determine if he can succeed at the NBA level. Besides, I don’t think Red Auerback could have won with that group. He should be a viable option since he has had actual head coaching experience.
4) Sam Mitchell – It’s doubtful this will happen considering Mitchell’s previous disagreements with “Skip To My Lou” Rafer Alston in Toronto, but who knows how long Alston remains on such a bad roster. He has the most experience of any coach on this list and has actually proved to be a savior to a fading franchise before, as he helped bring the Raptors back to respectability once Vince Carter flew the coop. His marvelous resurrection of the Toronto franchise earned him NBA Coach of the Year in 2007. He has that Larry Brown quality in that he can win with young, under-achieving teams, but comes up short once they make it to the Playoffs. He is the best fit on paper.
5) Terry Porter – As one of the game’s better point guard for the Trailblazers in the 80’s and 90’s, Porter is again an excellent mentor for All star point guard Devin Harris. Porter has excellent experience as both a player and coach. He was a 2 time All Star and made it to the Finals twice with Portland. As a coach he has been on the sidelines for nearly 200 games, with 2 of his 3 years as head man being winning seasons with the Bucks and Phoenix. He was 28-23 when he was let go last season for Alvin Gentry. Surely the Nets would reward him with a multi-year extension if he finished this season with the same .549 winning percentage.
Whoever gets the NJ head gig, it really doesn’t matter past this season since the slate is wiped clean and things start anew with the arrival of their new franchise player in Lebron, Wade, or Bosh. Why not give Ewing or Jackson a shot, maybe they find a diamond in the rough, and find their head coach for the future, along with their next franchise player.
