Who would you hire to coach the Sonics?

Last week I think I put the cart before the horse; maybe it is too early to start talking about who we would like in an expansion draft. Maybe what we should do is hire a Head Coach. Yes, let’s hire a Head Coach.

Nowadays just about any coach is fair game. Even currently employed Head Coaches. So who would you hire to coach the Seattle Supersonics? I will set up a poll and if your coach isn’t on my short list please use the comments section!!

Dwane Casey had an Interesting Week

This past week the National Basketball Coaches Association named Toronto Raptors Head Coach Dwane Casey Coach of the Year. This past week Casey and the Raptors were swept for the second consecutive season by the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Friday the Toronto Raptors fired Casey.

Not many can say they were named Coach of the Year and fired in the same week. I believe the last time this happened the Denver Nuggets fired former Supersonics coach George Karl.

On my Friday Phil Naessens Show I discussed this firing and also previewed the Eastern Conference Final between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics as well as the Western Conference Final between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. You can download the show at my site or listen below!

http://media.blubrry.com/philnaessensshow/ia601509.us.archive.org/22/items/PNS1368/PNS1368.mp3

Nick Collison Retires from the NBA

The list of active NBA players having played for the Seattle Supersonics is now down to just two after former Supersonics player Nick Collison retired from the NBA. The only active former Supersonics players are Kevin Durant and Damian Wilkins. Here are some highlights of Collison in a music video playing for our Sonics!!

NBA Rookie of the Year

The overall consensus is Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons will be the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year. Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell is probably the runner-up but the best rookie of the 2018 Playoffs might just be Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum.

Atlanta Hawks Hire Lloyd Pierce as their new Head Coach

Former Philadelphia 76ers Assistant Coach Lloyd Pierce has been hired by the Atlanta Hawks to be their Head Coach. Pierce has been credited with the defensive improvements the 76ers made this season and from all I have heard is well respected. Hawks fans seem happy about this but I don’t think he’s as good as former coach Mike Budenholzer but we will have to wait and see.

Charlotte Hire James Borrego to be their New Head Coach

The Gregg Popovich Head Coaching tree added a new branch this past week as his assistant James Borrego was hired by the Hornets to be their next Head Coach. He claims he wants the Hornets to play faster and cited that “internal development” that includes maximizing what his players already do well. What a novel idea!! I don’t know how exactly he’s going to accomplish this with their current roster but good luck with that.

The Philadelphia 76ers Had a Great Season

I’m sure the 76ers fan base was a bit disappointed after getting knocked out by the Celtics. Head Coach Brett Brown claims the 76ers need to land a “high level” free agent this summer. I wonder who he could be referring to? Depending on your definition of “high level” could he mean LeBron James? Paul George? Chris Paul? Maybe making a trade for Kawhi Leonard? I’m thinking the player they have the best chance of getting is George. He didn’t look all too happy playing for the Thunder and would be a much better fit in Philly than alongside Russell Westbrook. Currently sports betting site Bovada has George at +600 to sign with the 76ers. I’m also curious as to what the 76ers plans are for Markelle Fultz. He did play a bit towards the end of the regular season even recording a Triple Double. Should provide endless amounts of speculation with our friends at Liberty Ballers.

The Utah Jazz Fell Short

It was a valiant effort on the part of the Jazz but unfortunately they fell to the Rockets. It’s too bad Ricky Rubio hadn’t of gotten himself hurt otherwise this might have been a much closer series. Rookie Donovan Mitchell had a difficult time against Houston but man oh man can he play. Joe Ingles brought his lunch pail to work and I also liked the way Jae Crowder shot the ball on the road. Plus let’s not forget about probable Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The big question mark for the Jazz this offseason seems to be whether or not to re-sign soon to be unrestricted Free agent Derrick Favors. With two years left on Crowder’s contract and losing most of his minutes to Crowder I’m not sure the Jazz will bring him back. Point Guard and long-term project Dante Exum is a restricted free agent and that might be a tough decision. The talent is surely there but his health is iffy. Jazz fans will have a great time talking about this team for a long long time!

The Pelicans Will Have to Wait Until Next Season

Making the playoffs probably helped Pelicans Head Coach Alvin Gentry keep his job. Sweeping the highly touted Portland Trail Blazers cemented it. This is a fun young team and watching a healthy Anthony Davis dominate teams is worth the price of admission. Watching how the Warriors dominated them in Games Four and Five shows the Pelicans have some work to do this offseason. Those last two games also demonstrated how much heart the Pelicans core has as they never gave up. The Pelicans have tremendous building blocks in Davis and Jrue Holiday. What they need is to figure out what to do about unrestricted free agent DeMarcus Cousins; do they bring him back or let him walk? Do they re-sign point guard Rajon Rondo or do they let him walk? Solomon Hill has two years left on his deal; do the Pels try and move him or wait and see him after he returns from the offseason presumably fully healthy? Ian Clark is an unrestricted free agent who played valuable minutes in the Warriors series. Is he worth another shot? Things are definitely trending upward and it will be fun to see what the Pelicans do this summer.

Enjoy the NBA this week Sonics Fans!!