OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[harp23]

Billy Donovan? Kevin Ollie? Fred H? Carlisle? Airwaves are HUMMIN'!

I predict they hire San Antonio assistant Ettore Messina.

[Dustin]

Good riddance.

He was a good coach but not good enough. He couldn't win a championship with Harden, Westbrook, and Durant all healthy. I've been waiting for this day for a while...

[Dustin]

I wonder if Coach K would consider??

I'm being partially serious.

[Stickman]

I bet he is interested. He may want to leave the cold weather.

[Laramie]

What about Mark Jackson?

[FighttheGoodFight]

I wish we could pick up a veteran NBA coach but my bet is on an assistant or college coach.

[Jersey Boss]

I would like to see someone with NBA experience, someone who has shown they can coach grown azz men. Jeff Van Gundy perhaps?

[Bellaboo]

Billy Donovan rumors floating around.

[okatty]

Ollie is the obvious one who KD and RW would have endorsed, he has ties to Thunder and is known to be pretty close to Sam P, has 13 years as a player, etc. I find it really odd he would have released that statement earlier today if the skids had been greased. Read some comments on ESPN from people saying "Well say goodbye to your superstars now" and saying how much KD and RW love Brooks...WOW. Do you seriously believe they make this move without the blessings of these two guys no matter what is being said publicly? It's sure spiced up the daily sports blogs anyway!! ha

[dankrutka]

They didn't do this without having a good idea of who is the next coach in my view. And they didn't do it without KD and RW being on board with it being best for the franchise.

It was reported that Russ and KD were not involved in the decision. It's a slippery slope once players get input on personal decisions.

All the Warrior players wanted Mark Jackson back. They're pretty happy now. Just make a good hire.

Personally, I want to see a coach with NBA experience and an analytics and Xs and Os background (Brooks weaknesses). No college guys - too risky.

[dankrutka]

Ollie is the obvious one who KD and RW would have endorsed, he has ties to Thunder and is known to be pretty close to Sam P, has 13 years as a player, etc. I find it really odd he would have released that statement earlier today if the skids had been greased. Read some comments on ESPN from people saying "Well say goodbye to your superstars now" and saying how much KD and RW love Brooks...WOW. Do you seriously believe they make this move without the blessings of these two guys no matter what is being said publicly? It's sure spiced up the daily sports blogs anyway!! ha

If it's me I'm not picking a former teammate with no NBA experience. Too risky for a win-now season.

[dankrutka]

What about Mark Jackson?

Oh God no. Mark Jackson has all the same weaknesses as Brooks.

[dankrutka]

I wonder if Coach K would consider??

I'm being partially serious.

I can get behind Coach K. He has extensive Team USA experience. Highly unlikely though... But interesting.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder's center/power forward Enes, the Menance just underwent knee surgery.

The Thunder's injury woes have spilled past the regular season, as Kanter, 22, will miss 4-6 weeks of off-season activity after having his knee scoped

Enes Kanter: Oklahoma City Thunder center undergoes knee surgery - NBA - SI.com

[okatty]

It was reported that Russ and KD were not involved in the decision. It's a slippery slope once players get input on personal decisions.

All the Warrior players wanted Mark Jackson back. They're pretty happy now. Just make a good hire.

Personally, I want to see a coach with NBA experience and an analytics and Xs and Os background (Brooks weaknesses). No college guys - too risky.

No one is going to acknowlege that KD and RW were involved or consulted - neither the Thunder or the players. Party line is to play Sergant Shultz - I KNOW NOTHING! But I say there is no chance they were not in the know on this and essentially agreed.

[okatty]

If it's me I'm not picking a former teammate with no NBA experience. Too risky for a win-now season.

Ollie has same experience Steve Kerr had. Same as Jason Kidd. Both who had great years.

I think he is the most likely guy just looking at how this has all come down (with the exception of that curious statement he issued today).

[Jersey Boss]

No one is going to acknowlege that KD and RW were involved or consulted - neither the Thunder or the players. Party line is to play Sergant Shultz - I KNOW NOTHING! But I say there is no chance they were not in the know on this and essentially agreed.

Do you think KD/Russ were asked by Presti if they agreed to the "Beard" trade? They wwere all pretty tight at the time.

[okatty]

Do you think KD/Russ were asked by Presti if they agreed to the "Beard" trade? They wwere all pretty tight at the time.

To me That is very different. That had all sorts of salary cap issues tied to the Hardin decision and worked hard to sign him under the max and it wasn't the year before KD's contract is up. Do you think they were not consulted? We are talking about the NBA here - a league where the superstars have lots of input and it's good business to keep them happy.

[Laramie]

Top 5 candidates to replace Scott Brooks:

5. Tom Thibodeau
4. Mark Jackson
3. Kevin Ollie
2. Alvin Gentry
1. Billy Donovan

Source: Scott Brooks: Top 5 Candidates To Replace OKC's Coach

[bradh]

No
No
Yes
No
Maybe

Why is Ron Adams not mentioned?

[Stickman]

I think Ollie would jump at the job. A lot warmer down here, and he would have a very good starting five.

Too bad Phil Jackson is too old. He was a great coach...........not so much a GM.

[dankrutka]

No one is going to acknowlege that KD and RW were involved or consulted - neither the Thunder or the players. Party line is to play Sergant Shultz - I KNOW NOTHING! But I say there is no chance they were not in the know on this and essentially agreed.

That's not how the Thunder have ever operated. Neither players were consulted before trading their friends, which everyone said would cause them to want to leave. It's short term thinking... Winning cures all. Presti just needs to make the right basketball moves. The pre-Heat LeBron Cavs are a great example of NOT bringing in a star player to help make decisions. Worked out terribly over and over again. I don't think Presti will make the same mistake.

[dankrutka]

Ollie has same experience Steve Kerr had. Same as Jason Kidd. Both who had great years.

I think he is the most likely guy just looking at how this has all come down (with the exception of that curious statement he issued today).

Neither of those guys were in a one year emergency situation. That's what this is. You can take a risk of there's no rush, which didn't exist in GS or Milwaukee.

[okatty]

Neither of those guys were in a one year emergency situation. That's what this is. You can take a risk of there's no rush, which didn't exist in GS or Milwaukee.

But the point is they both have had success.

[okatty]

That's not how the Thunder have ever operated. Neither players were consulted before trading their friends, which everyone said would cause them to want to leave. It's short term thinking... Winning cures all. Presti just needs to make the right basketball moves. The pre-Heat LeBron Cavs are a great example of NOT bringing in a star player to help make decisions. Worked out terribly over and over again. I don't think Presti will make the same mistake.

Keeping KD and RW isn't short term thinking. And it's not like Ollie is chopped liver. If they think he is a quality coach and there is benefit to him in terms of retaining stars they'll do it. They may not MAKE the decision but they will be good with whatever one is made I feel sure.