Uhh Oh, Pelicans Fire Monty Williams
- Thread starter 1war
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With Cal's best player ever in NO along with another Cal great, Evans, anybody worried he might take the Pelicans job? They're only a few good players away from being a top team. Cal would be set for 10-15 years with AD.
I'm surprised they fired Williams after making the playoffs and playing GS well. Almost makes me wonder if they only fired him if they knew they could get who they want which would mean that a coach has already verbally agreed to take it if offered.
I'm surprised they fired Williams after making the playoffs and playing GS well. Almost makes me wonder if they only fired him if they knew they could get who they want which would mean that a coach has already verbally agreed to take it if offered.
Zaytoven, I'm all for being objectively critical or negative when it's appropriate, but you seem to jump at the chance, almost relishing it.
I think they'll look at Thibodeau and D'Antoni, just a guess on both. I think Alvin Gentry would be a good choice. Whoever gets it won't be getting full control from what I understand, but still a very appealing job because you'll have a top 5 player who is 22.
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If referring to me you're wrong. I don't want anybody other than Calipari here. Does he piss me off with some things he does? Yes. But I love him and wouldn't want anyone else.
This worries me a little. He could reunite with AD and Evans in the city where he won his title to coach a playoff ready team. A team that will have the best player in the world for the next decade. Plus if you remember, Davis said a month ago he thinks Cal should go to the NBA because he has nothing left to do in college so you know he's pushing for Cal.
This worries me a little. He could reunite with AD and Evans in the city where he won his title to coach a playoff ready team. A team that will have the best player in the world for the next decade. Plus if you remember, Davis said a month ago he thinks Cal should go to the NBA because he has nothing left to do in college so you know he's pushing for Cal.
If I got Cal as a choice or Thibs, that might be a tough call. Thibs though is wearing guys thin in CHI.
Cal is definitely a player's coach; the question is will Owner Benson put up the big bucks to get Cal in there and solidify AD staying in NO?
And how good would that frontline look with Nerlens aside AD instead of that trade for Holliday?
Cal is definitely a player's coach; the question is will Owner Benson put up the big bucks to get Cal in there and solidify AD staying in NO?
And how good would that frontline look with Nerlens aside AD instead of that trade for Holliday?
I see where Jeff Goodman is already using this for his daily "how can I harm John Calipari and help Bill Self recruit" routine by attempting to link this job to Cal.
Regardless of the progress that the Pelicans made this year, Williams was a mediocre (at best) coach who seemed to bring nothing to the table other than that the players generally liked him. He played at a slow pace, it took forever for him to design an offense for AD (and get his guards to buy into it) and his team defense (which was supposed to be his specialty) was mediocre at best.
Unfortunately (for UK), the Pelicans' priority #1, and #2, and #3, 4, 5, 6, and so on, has to be keeping Anthony Davis around. Everything else lags way, way behind that. If they think that getting Cal will ensure that AD stays, then yeah, they're probably going to make an offer. One thing that might keep it from happening (beyond, hopefully, Cal just not being interested) is money. New Orleans isn't one of the more profitable teams in the league, and they've tended to be pretty tight with the purse strings. Williams made about 1/2 of what Cal makes at UK.
Unfortunately (for UK), the Pelicans' priority #1, and #2, and #3, 4, 5, 6, and so on, has to be keeping Anthony Davis around. Everything else lags way, way behind that. If they think that getting Cal will ensure that AD stays, then yeah, they're probably going to make an offer. One thing that might keep it from happening (beyond, hopefully, Cal just not being interested) is money. New Orleans isn't one of the more profitable teams in the league, and they've tended to be pretty tight with the purse strings. Williams made about 1/2 of what Cal makes at UK.
Nope, was talking about 3rex and a few others, not you.
I heard my former high school basketball coach resigned. Man, I hope Cal doesn't leave us to go there. Do you guys think he'll leave I heard they could win state next year. I swear some on here never cease to amaze me. You do realize that almost every coaching vacancy in the NBA is going to have former cats on the team.
AD will have more influence on this NOLA hire than KD had for the OKC opening.
They can sign him to an extension this summer and they are going to go all out. They will go balls to the wall after WHOEVER AD wants.
They won't need to hire a search firm. They will ask AD to rank the guys he wants and they'll start working down the list.
They can sign him to an extension this summer and they are going to go all out. They will go balls to the wall after WHOEVER AD wants.
They won't need to hire a search firm. They will ask AD to rank the guys he wants and they'll start working down the list.
NOOOOO!! I hope not. We need to start a rumor that they are going after Self and Coach K really hard and that is their only 2 choices!!
Cal wouldn't even consider any NBA openings unless he was offered a Coach/President type of role. Only team that seems crazy enough to do it for him would be the Cavs. Not worried that he takes this job.
IMO this is a more appealing job than the possible opening besides Cleveland or Chicago but honestly it's just about as appealing as those two. Chicago has Rose, though he's not the same player he was a likely never will be, and Bulter, but Gasol is aging and Noah is getting older as well. They have a great rookie but the upside for winning long term isn't that great IMO.
The Cavs have LeBron, but even he's around 30 now, and a guy who can shoot you in or out of a game with his selfishness in Irving. I don't think Love stays, he hasn't liked it there all year and I think this injury sealed it that he just wants out. They have some solid role players though. So again winning long term doesn't look good IMO. I really don't think they will win a title period because Cleveland is destined to not win a title. If Cal goes there and doesn't win then it just adds to his rep of not being able to win despite having the best talent.
The NO players are all young but AD is the trump card. Imagine Cal comes in and trades Holiday and a backup big guy for DMC. They then have the best frontcourt in the league by far. I doubt there's anyway NO could get Wall away from Washington without giving up Davis or DMC but the Wiz possibly might be dumb enough to trade Wall for Evans and Gordon. Wall, AD and DMC would be the best big 3 in the league. You'd need to plug holes at SG and SF though. Although MKG will be a free agent in a year or two I think and they could get him at a good price since he's underperformed because I doubt the Hornets put up much of a fight to keep him. He's a decent starting SF or a great backup. They could then get a good shooter at the starting SG spot and a good shooter off the bench and they would have a legit shot at multiple titles.
The Cavs have LeBron, but even he's around 30 now, and a guy who can shoot you in or out of a game with his selfishness in Irving. I don't think Love stays, he hasn't liked it there all year and I think this injury sealed it that he just wants out. They have some solid role players though. So again winning long term doesn't look good IMO. I really don't think they will win a title period because Cleveland is destined to not win a title. If Cal goes there and doesn't win then it just adds to his rep of not being able to win despite having the best talent.
The NO players are all young but AD is the trump card. Imagine Cal comes in and trades Holiday and a backup big guy for DMC. They then have the best frontcourt in the league by far. I doubt there's anyway NO could get Wall away from Washington without giving up Davis or DMC but the Wiz possibly might be dumb enough to trade Wall for Evans and Gordon. Wall, AD and DMC would be the best big 3 in the league. You'd need to plug holes at SG and SF though. Although MKG will be a free agent in a year or two I think and they could get him at a good price since he's underperformed because I doubt the Hornets put up much of a fight to keep him. He's a decent starting SF or a great backup. They could then get a good shooter at the starting SG spot and a good shooter off the bench and they would have a legit shot at multiple titles.
First, I don't think Cal would do that to UK this late in the process. meaning, it would be very hard to find a coach and deal with all the recruiting implications it would cause. Second, I believe Cal when he says that he feels he can't have the impact on young people and their dreams by coaching an NBA team.
This isn't what I wanted to see. Could I potentially see Cal and AD reunited if the offer is out of this world, possibly. Do I think it will happen, no. And I sure as hell hope it doesn't happen. I do hope they land a solid coach down there in NOLA though. That team is young and pretty talented with a superstar who isn't even 23 yet.
I'm not trying to stir anything up here, but you have to think this might be a legit draw for Cal. That's assuming AD wants Cal as his coach....maybe he does, maybe he doesn't.
Having the chance to get in at essentially the ground floor with AD, potentially signing him to a fresh 5 yr deal......then having the stability with him signed to attract top free agents.....it's clearly tempting and I'd never blame the guy for wanting to be apart of that.
With AD, they are one big time free agent signing away from the top of the West and title contenders for the next 5 years at least.
Having the chance to get in at essentially the ground floor with AD, potentially signing him to a fresh 5 yr deal......then having the stability with him signed to attract top free agents.....it's clearly tempting and I'd never blame the guy for wanting to be apart of that.
With AD, they are one big time free agent signing away from the top of the West and title contenders for the next 5 years at least.
It will be a LONG line of coaches wanting that job because Davis is young and a top players in the NBA and is 22.
Gordon although injured often is still only 26 years old, only played 61 games but has talent if can stay healthy. Holiday is just 24, but as with Gordon was injured and only played 40 regular season games. Evans is only 25 and had a solid year as well.
The kicker will be if the Cavs beat the Bulls and Thibs is fired. But honestly I think Cal does better with the Pelicans roster than Bulls.
Gordon although injured often is still only 26 years old, only played 61 games but has talent if can stay healthy. Holiday is just 24, but as with Gordon was injured and only played 40 regular season games. Evans is only 25 and had a solid year as well.
The kicker will be if the Cavs beat the Bulls and Thibs is fired. But honestly I think Cal does better with the Pelicans roster than Bulls.
Then, I will. Zaytoven is awful and gets off on anything negative regarding UK.
It's just like the OKC situation, the team has reached the ceiling of where Williams can take them. He is not the top of coach that will be able to get them a title, or even get to the Finals. I saw an article where they ranked the coaches and he was down in the 20s, which sounds about right.
Now the question is can they get someone in there who can get them to the next level. Having a top 5 player as your foundation isn't a bad starting point.
Because he is not a very good coach? He refused to run the offense through AD and basically did nothing for their defense.
I admit I've been negative or realistic(IMO) in my posts since April but it all had to do with the last game. Normally I'm ok after the season ending about a week latter but I still get mad to this day when I think about the Wisconsin game and then how things have happened since. I'm starting to get over it but not there yet.
Although I don't see what about my posts in this thread are negative. Can I not talk about an opening for Cal just because I've been negative recently? I'm guessing if I were a sunshine pumper then it wouldn't matter that I started this thread?
I'm not saying any of that is a smartass way, You're one of the few reasonable and knowledgeable posters on the board so I'm just legitimately asking.
Adding Fuel to Fire, per ESPN's 2015 free agent status,
All of these guys have enough money to take the league minimum simply to extend their careers and have a very legit chance to win another/multiple championships. Never say never.....
(Am I misinterpreting this? http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12307054/nba-free-agents-2015-2016
- Lebron James, unrestricted players choice.
- Dwyane Wade, unrestricted players choice, (had never noticed that's how he spelled his name.)
- Dirk Knowitzki, unrestricted players choice
- Kevin Garnett & Rajon Rondo---both unrestricted (This would be the ultimate bizzaro move---that might just work.)
All of these guys have enough money to take the league minimum simply to extend their careers and have a very legit chance to win another/multiple championships. Never say never.....
(Am I misinterpreting this? http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12307054/nba-free-agents-2015-2016
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No, starting the thread is perfectly reasonable, but maybe don't start the title with "Uhh Oh."
I've said for years that I thought Cal would eventually leave for the NBA.
Pretty sure Cleveland job will be open after the playoffs.. That's the only one that would worry me and even then, life goes on...
If I am an NBA GM I don't get the allure of Cal. Now from the New Orleans perspective it's a bit different due to key players relationships. But any other team, there is a lot better x and o's guys available. He would be great for off season free agent recruitment but I think he's a better fit for college, just getting players to buy in with other top talent for one year etc. Wisconsin game prime example, last 5 minutes his coaching was questionable in crunch time. If I'm doing the hiring I take that just as much as other variables.
Oh yea I get off on being miserable from all the bad crap that's happened to the program since after the ND game. I also think you're one of the more rational and knowledgeable posters here but I don't agree with your post. You've got me all wrong.
I do enjoy picking on the sunshine pumper crowd because of how mad they make me with their blind faith and optimism. They're the same one that defended and praised Gillespie until the day he was fired and then wouldn't even believe all the horror stories that came out about him until a couple players confirmed them.
What I posted in one of the other daily threads on Cal to the NBA.
He is happy here, the "big dog", "the man" at "the program". That is something he can never be in the NBA. He enjoys the kids, the process and the attention.
Could he go? Sure, some owner might pop up and say here is 12 mil a year come and coach my team. But I doubt it. College is a coaches game and the NBA is a players game. A NBA coach is hired to be fired. (for the most part) They are the built in excuse and are fired when bad luck happens, the players do not perform or live up to expectations or the owner wakes up on the wrong side of the bed.
Cal has the perfect job for his talent and personality now and I do not see that changing.
He is happy here, the "big dog", "the man" at "the program". That is something he can never be in the NBA. He enjoys the kids, the process and the attention.
Could he go? Sure, some owner might pop up and say here is 12 mil a year come and coach my team. But I doubt it. College is a coaches game and the NBA is a players game. A NBA coach is hired to be fired. (for the most part) They are the built in excuse and are fired when bad luck happens, the players do not perform or live up to expectations or the owner wakes up on the wrong side of the bed.
Cal has the perfect job for his talent and personality now and I do not see that changing.
Ok gotcha. I'd edit the title but I haven't been able to find where you can edit a title.
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