Twix
Starter
Who's next?
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The Bee's Joe Davidson takes a look at possible candidates to succeed Rick Adelman as coach of the Kings
1. DON NELSON
* Why he's intriguing: Somehow, you wonder if the Maloofs crave a big-name splash. He is the third man to win 1,000 NBA games and had playoff teams over three decades with Milwaukee, Golden State and Dallas. Nellie is the master of creating matchup nightmares. His teams dazzle and entertain, and he yearns to coach again.
* Why he doesn't fit: The knock on Nellie in Big D was not enough D - which is the knock on Adelman. Nellie also has had run-ins with several players, including Chris Webber at Golden State, and he stepped down last season to catch his breath. And he'll cost a ton.
2. JOHN WHISENANT
* Why he's intriguing: As coach of the defending WNBA champion Monarchs and a family friend for more than 30 years, Whisenant is comfortable with the Maloofs and the Maloofs are comfortable with Whisenant.
* Why he doesn't fit: The WNBA is not the NBA, for starters. Different gender, different seasons, different egos, different game plan. Though the Maloofs are fond of Whisenant, how would the Kings' players deal with a coach daring enough to make the jump? And bottom line, would Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie support the hire?
3. EDDIE JORDAN
* Why he's intriguing: He can coach, for one. Jordan proved he can win with talent, unlike what he had in his Kings tour preceding Adelman. He was the top assistant under Byron Scott for New Jersey's two trips to the Finals and has led Washington to back-to-back playoff berths. And Petrie didn't want him dismissed as the Kings' coach.
* Why he doesn't fit: Not much argument here, except that Washington may offer him an extension at some point. Jordan went 1-19 down the stretch in his final Kings campaign in 1997-98, but the roster's a whole lot better now, not to mention Jordan himself.
4. BYRON SCOTT
* Why he's intriguing: He's trying to secure guaranteed years to his contract, so this may be moot. But he took New Jersey to the NBA Finals twice using the Princeton principles he learned from Pete Carril. And he pushed short-handed, displaced New Orleans up to the very end. He's tough and cracks down on slackers who don't play hurt or inspired.
* Why he doesn't fit: Players grumble that he's too hard and expects them to be like he was, a champion from his 1980s Lakers days. Calls out his players in the media and has butted heads with team stars (from Jason Kidd in Jersey to Baron Davis in New Orleans).
5. P.J. CARLESIMO
* Why he's intriguing: He has won in the NBA, taking Portland to the playoffs twice in the 1990s when he replaced Adelman. He said he has mellowed, matured and learned a great deal away from the hot seat as Gregg Popovich's assistant in San Antonio.
* Why he doesn't fit: Perhaps unfairly, Carlesimo always will be remembered for the infamous showdown with Latrell Sprewell, who tried to choke the life out of the coach when they were with Golden State. It was part of a dreadful two-plus seasons with the Warriors that ended with a 46-113 record. He hasn't landed a head-coaching gig since.
6. ERIC MUSSELMAN
* Why he's intriguing: He young, he's fiery, he stresses defense. And he took a sorry Golden State Warriors franchise and pumped in some life during his two-year stint, going 75-89 in 2002-03 and '03-'04, though he took the fall for missing the playoffs and was fired. He landed in Memphis as an assistant where Mike Fratello breathes defense.
* Why he doesn't fit: He might not have enough experience. And he might have too much Fratello in him, meaning zero wiggle room for personality, candor or flexibility with players who can be high maintenance and delicate (Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells, Kenny Thomas).
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The Bee's Joe Davidson takes a look at possible candidates to succeed Rick Adelman as coach of the Kings
1. DON NELSON
* Why he's intriguing: Somehow, you wonder if the Maloofs crave a big-name splash. He is the third man to win 1,000 NBA games and had playoff teams over three decades with Milwaukee, Golden State and Dallas. Nellie is the master of creating matchup nightmares. His teams dazzle and entertain, and he yearns to coach again.
* Why he doesn't fit: The knock on Nellie in Big D was not enough D - which is the knock on Adelman. Nellie also has had run-ins with several players, including Chris Webber at Golden State, and he stepped down last season to catch his breath. And he'll cost a ton.
2. JOHN WHISENANT
* Why he's intriguing: As coach of the defending WNBA champion Monarchs and a family friend for more than 30 years, Whisenant is comfortable with the Maloofs and the Maloofs are comfortable with Whisenant.
* Why he doesn't fit: The WNBA is not the NBA, for starters. Different gender, different seasons, different egos, different game plan. Though the Maloofs are fond of Whisenant, how would the Kings' players deal with a coach daring enough to make the jump? And bottom line, would Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie support the hire?
3. EDDIE JORDAN
* Why he's intriguing: He can coach, for one. Jordan proved he can win with talent, unlike what he had in his Kings tour preceding Adelman. He was the top assistant under Byron Scott for New Jersey's two trips to the Finals and has led Washington to back-to-back playoff berths. And Petrie didn't want him dismissed as the Kings' coach.
* Why he doesn't fit: Not much argument here, except that Washington may offer him an extension at some point. Jordan went 1-19 down the stretch in his final Kings campaign in 1997-98, but the roster's a whole lot better now, not to mention Jordan himself.
4. BYRON SCOTT
* Why he's intriguing: He's trying to secure guaranteed years to his contract, so this may be moot. But he took New Jersey to the NBA Finals twice using the Princeton principles he learned from Pete Carril. And he pushed short-handed, displaced New Orleans up to the very end. He's tough and cracks down on slackers who don't play hurt or inspired.
* Why he doesn't fit: Players grumble that he's too hard and expects them to be like he was, a champion from his 1980s Lakers days. Calls out his players in the media and has butted heads with team stars (from Jason Kidd in Jersey to Baron Davis in New Orleans).
5. P.J. CARLESIMO
* Why he's intriguing: He has won in the NBA, taking Portland to the playoffs twice in the 1990s when he replaced Adelman. He said he has mellowed, matured and learned a great deal away from the hot seat as Gregg Popovich's assistant in San Antonio.
* Why he doesn't fit: Perhaps unfairly, Carlesimo always will be remembered for the infamous showdown with Latrell Sprewell, who tried to choke the life out of the coach when they were with Golden State. It was part of a dreadful two-plus seasons with the Warriors that ended with a 46-113 record. He hasn't landed a head-coaching gig since.
6. ERIC MUSSELMAN
* Why he's intriguing: He young, he's fiery, he stresses defense. And he took a sorry Golden State Warriors franchise and pumped in some life during his two-year stint, going 75-89 in 2002-03 and '03-'04, though he took the fall for missing the playoffs and was fired. He landed in Memphis as an assistant where Mike Fratello breathes defense.
* Why he doesn't fit: He might not have enough experience. And he might have too much Fratello in him, meaning zero wiggle room for personality, candor or flexibility with players who can be high maintenance and delicate (Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells, Kenny Thomas).
Poor guy, though.
