After a 2016-17 season with no coaching changes, there has been plenty of movement on that front in 2017-18. Three coaches lost their jobs during the season, and the offseason firings began just hours after the regular season ended. We’ll be on top of all the moves as they happen.
Who’s out: Mike Budenholzer?
Who’s in: TBD
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Hawks have granted coach Mike Budenholzer permission to speak with the Phoenix Suns about their head-coaching vacancy. Budenholzer led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals in 2014-15, but the team declined every season since, missing the postseason altogether in 2017-18 to end a 10-season streak. Budenholzer, an Arizona native who has two years left on his contract, had been Atlanta’s president of basketball operations until he relinquished front office control with the arrival of new GM Travis Schlenk in the spring of 2017.
Who’s out: Steve Clifford
Who’s in: TBD
Clifford, who took a medical leave of absence earlier this season, had been with Charlotte since their final season as the Bobcats. But back-to-back seasons finishing 10 games below .500 marked the end of his tenure with the franchise. Newly hired GM Mitch Kupchak will now lead the search for a coach who can lead the Hornets to their first playoff series win since 2002.
Who’s out: Frank Vogel
Who’s in: TBD
The good feelings from Orlando’s hot start quickly faded as the Magic slumped to a 25-57 finish, leading to Vogel being fired after two seasons at the helm. Vogel was 54-110 in two seasons with the Magic.
Who’s out: Jeff Hornacek
Who’s in: TBD
A season-ending win over the Cleveland Cavaliers wasn’t enough to save Hornacek, who was fired when the team got back to New York after the finale. Hornacek was 60-104 in two seasons with the Knicks.
Begley: Nine potential targets to replace Hornacek as Knicks head coach
Who’s out: Jason Kidd
Who’s in: Joe Prunty (interim)
Despite the support of superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kidd was fired 45 games into the season, his fourth at the helm of the Bucks. Longtime NBA assistant Prunty was named the interim coach for the remainder of the season and guided Milwaukee to a 21-16 finish and a first-round playoff matchup with the Toronto Raptors.
Pelton: With Kidd out, will the Bucks and Giannis reach their peak?
Who’s out: David Fizdale
Who’s in: J.B. Bickerstaff (interim)
The Grizzlies were on top of the NBA in the season’s early weeks, but an eight-game losing skid and a frayed relationship with Marc Gasol cost Fizdale his job. That losing streak extended to 11 under Bickerstaff, who eventually finished with a 15-48 mark in his second interim coaching job (he went 37-34 with the Houston Rockets in 2015-16). With the team’s ownership situation cleared up, the focus now moves to finding a full-time coach.
Pelton: What’s next for Conley, Gasol and Memphis after Fizdale’s firing
Who’s out: Earl Watson
Who’s in: Jay Triano (interim)
A dismal start and a disgruntled Eric Bledsoe doomed Watson, who was fired just three games into the season. Triano, the former head coach of the Toronto Raptors, took over on an interim basis and guided the Suns to the worst record in the league, securing the best odds for the top pick in May’s draft lottery. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has been granted permission by Atlanta to speak to Phoenix about their head coaching vacancy.
Pelton: The real reason the Suns didn’t succeed under Earl Watson
Source : ESPN
