The NBA coaching carousel is in full swing and the season isn’t even over yet.
A lot of jobs opened up this season and they are already being filled.
Seven head coaches have been hired thus far.
Which team will improve the most under their new head coaches? Thinking face
Ime Udoka ➡️ Celtics
Jason Kidd ➡️ Mavs
Rick Carlisle ➡️ Pacers
Willie Green ➡️ Pelicans
Jamahl Mosley ➡️ Magic
Chauncey Billups ➡️ Blazers
Wes Unseld Jr. ➡️ Wizards pic.twitter.com/CAFW71zBci— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 17, 2021
With all of the openings as of right now being locked in, we should take a look to see what teams nailed the assignment on finding their next leader of the locker room.
Most of these teams needed a new direction, or just needed one to begin with.
These hires are meant to bring in success for the organization.
However, there can only be three that cracked the list of best NBA head coaching hires.
3. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
Jamahl Mosley has been an assistant coach in the NBA for over a decade.
His longest tenure was with the Dallas Mavericks over the last seven seasons.
Mosley is someone who commanded a lot of respect across the league.
Players have come to love him and head coaches have vouched for him.
The Orlando Magic were the team to step up and give him a chance.
The Orlando Magic are selecting Jamahl Mosley as their next head coach. pic.twitter.com/P39lbKzRpk
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) July 11, 2021
This franchise is not really going anywhere and are in the midst of a proper rebuild.
Mosley can help mold the next crop of players that would fit in for the next era of Magic basketball.
This hiring made so much sense for both sides and it is one of the best of this season.
2. Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers
After one season under Nate Bjorkgren, the Indiana Pacers knew they needed to move on.
They believed he was the man for the job a year ago after firing Nate McMillan.
However, it was the wrong choice.
Bjorkgren did not have the respect of the locker room and needed to go as soon as the season ended.
The Pacers found the perfect replacement in Rick Carlisle.
Sources: The Pacers are hiring Rick Carlisle as head coach. He will sign a 4-year, $29 million contract.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 24, 2021
Carlisle spent the last 13 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and led the franchise to their only title in 2011.
He brings a toughness and leadership to an organization.
That is something the Pacers needed after this tumultuous season.
Carlisle will get respect from the team on day one.
He is a perfect fit for a veteran roster with hopes of making the playoffs again.
1. Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics
The most surprising head coaching vacancy was with the Boston Celtics.
Danny Ainge stepped down as team president, which wasn’t a shock to most.
However, the biggest surprise was that their head coach, Brad Stevens, was taking over that role.
In doing so, he was stepping down as the head coach.
The search had to start after that.
The Celtics have been a team that can’t seem to break through.
We have seen them in multiple Conference Finals, just to fall short.
That is why they hired a man with a championship pedigree in Ime Udoka.
Udoka is a part of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, as he was an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs for several years.
He knows how to be a part of a winning organization already.
Also, he already has a connection with some of the players on the Celtics.
He has worked with Jayson Tatum on Team USA since he is an assistant for Popovich on the last few teams.
Popovich says Tatum went through a full practice today and he's currently still on the court getting extra work in with Ime Udoka
— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) July 15, 2021
Udoka has also worked with Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown before.
The connection is already there with the team.
This was easily the best hire possible for the Celtics.
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