As The Coaching Carousel Turns

Chicago Bulls

Doug Collins

Collins will become the next Bulls head coach, according to a source.

I think this is a great move for the Bulls. After a promising 2006-2007 run, Chicago was doomed from the start of the season because of contract issues and trade rumors.

Collins’ basketball intelligence is unquestioned. He’s a demanding coach who enjoys imparting his knowledge upon young players. Which young player (Beasley or Rose) will be Chicago’s cornerstone is still in question.

But with Boston and Detroit’s championship windows closing, the Bulls are the up-and-coming team in the East.

Doug’s seasoned tutelage should be appreciated in the Windy City.

Dallas Mavericks

Rick Carlisle

After two straight first round exits, the curtain had closed on Avery’s time in Dallas. And rightfully so. Johnson had made more than his fair share of questionable decisions over the past few years and it was time that he be held accountable for those choices. Most notably, his decision to double and triple-team Shaq at every opportunity in the 2006 NBA Finals and attempting to match up with Don Nelson’s ’small ball’ lineup in 2007.

Enter Rick Carlisle, a guy who led separate teams (Detroit & Indiana) to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships. Carlisle approaches the game with a defensive mindset but is offensively creative enough to utilize the aging Jason Kidd.

New York Knicks

Mike D’Antoni

The idea of playing in Madison Square Garden and in the NBA’s largest market is appealing enough. Factor in Mike D’Antoni’s run n’ gun system and New York is going to be the destination of choice for the league’s most offensively talented players.

Donnie Walsh and D’Antoni’s #1 target is LeBron James. James will be a free agent after the 2010 season. If Walsh can manage to unload either Randolph or Curry’s contract and doesn’t add any further to their payroll,the Knicks will be in position to make a run at the “Chosen One.”

LeBron is the NBA’s best finisher. He was USA’s best player statistically last summer when paired with Jason Kidd.

With a serviceable point guard and D’Antoni’s offensive brilliance, it’s frightening to think how dominating he could be finishing fast breaks 82 games a year rather than starting them from time to time in Cleveland.

Charlotte Bobcats

Larry Brown

This deal makes sense for both parties. Brown is a teacher and the Bobcats are an extremely young team. Expectations will be low and hopefully, this will be ‘Next Town Brown’s’ last gig.

I’m not a fan of Larry Brown’s. I think the manner of his departure from the Pistons showed his true colors.

Not to mention the fact that Isiah Thomas — the laughing stock of the NBA — did a better job coaching the Knicks than he did.

Rumors

NBA coach of the year Byron Scott and the New Orleans Hornets agreed in principle to a contract extension on Wednesday.

Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed but it’s rumored to be a two year extension around $6 million per year.

If that’s the case, I wonder how the duration of the deal was settled. After a year that surpassed many people’s expecations (including mine), one would think the Hornets would try and ink Scott to a long-term deal.

Or maybe it was Scott that preferred a short-term contract.

Guess who else’s deal expires in 2009-2010?

Phil Jackson’s.

If Jackson decides to retire at that point, Byron Scott would be the logical replacement.

He has Laker ties and he’s a proven commodity.

Scott hasn’t been shy in his praise of Kobe this season. The two even played with one another during Scott’s last year in the league.

Bryant might prefer to stick to the offense (triangle) he’s played in the majority of his career. If that’s the case, current Lakers assistants Kurt Rambis or Brian Shaw may be next in line.

But that’s the only obstacle (besides Phil signing another extension) I see that could prevent this from happening.

Chris Paul is a once in a generation point guard and the Hornets figure to be championship contenders for years to come but the bright lights of LA and the idea of following in former coach Pat Riley’s footsteps might be too much for Scott to turn down.