McMillan LeBron's Top Choice

[King]

The Cavaliers, however, are putting more irons in the fire. Former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders has also been targeted by the team. In an interview with the Newark Star-Ledger Tuesday in Miami, where Saunders was broadcasting the Heat-Nets game for TNT, he said the Cavaliers, Knicks, Lakers and Trail Blazers have contacted him.

Reports out of Seattle indicate the SuperSonics are in contract-extension talks with their head coach, Nate McMillan, but he also might be contacted by the Cavaliers once his season ends. A person close to LeBron James said Wednesday that McMillan is James' top choice to replace Paul Silas as head coach.

Source

I think McMillan would be an interesting coaching option for us. The article also mentions that Gilbert is planning on speaking to Phil Jackson.

 

[E-Light]

LeBron wants a black coach.

Nate Mcmillian hasn't done much before he ran into ray allen, vlad rad, their all star SF, and ridnour. He's down the list of candidates I want.

 

[LyXo]

I'd love to have Nate here. Everyone turned down the idea in the past forum saying it wasn't feasible. We need a good coach, and Nate is that coach, he's proven it this year. Seattle probably wants to restart anyway around their nexus of Vlad Rad, Rashard Lewis, etc. They most likely won't retain Ray Allen.

We could potentially take everything from Seattle: their Superstar, their Coach, and possibly their GM. All these guys are in contract talks. I don't know how much faith ownership will have unless they win the championship. To them it might just be a fluke, contract year season for all these guys. They haven't achieved much til now, when Nate could be left to his own devices.

 

[Karma]

Nate wouldn't be too bad a choice, but not neccessarily my top choice. In saying this, there has never really been to many problems under Nate for Seattle, despite average results coming into this season. When all things considered, Seattle have had no front court players for years, and without that presense, consistency is hard to achieve when you are primarily a perimeter team. E-Light, this is not a white/black thing.

 

[King]

I really like Nate. He would probably my choice for Coach of the Year this season. And if LeBron wants him we should definetly take a look at him. I would still take Saunders or Jackson over him, but he would be a good coach for us too imo.

 

[The Disector]

I like McMillan but I really don't want him as the coach at this time.

He's less proven then Silas was and I really believe the Cavs need a proven winner who has at the very least coached several playoff appearances under his belt.

I would want Phil Jackson 1st and after that everyone is secondary not to say there aren't other good coaches available with Flip Saunders as one of the top guys on that list.

The Cavs need a coach who is at least known to take thier team to the playoffs consistently, not another unproven commodity.

 

[LyXo]

After a year he rejoined the Nets and did some television commentary on television, then he returned to coaching with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association, also coaching summers in Puerto Rico. In five seasons in Albany, Jackson steered the Patroons to a league title and won a CBA Coach of the Year Award.

Jackson left the Patroons after the 1986-87 season with a 117-90 career record and landed a job as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan had just won his first of seven straight scoring titles in 1986-87, but under Collins the Bulls had gone 40-42. Jordan averaged 35.0 points in 1987-88 and Chicago improved to 50 wins, but was ousted in the playoffs.

Jackson's break came on Dec. 17, 1988. The Bulls trailed by 14 points when the high-strung Collins was ejected early in the game. Jackson took over in what normally is a placeholder role, tinkered with the team's defense and told the players to just go out and play. Forward Horace Grant later told The New York Times, "It was like we were let out of a cage. We won the game because we were so relaxed -- and we knew that Phil should become a head coach." The following spring the Bulls lost to Detroit in the conference finals. Two months later Collins was out and Jackson was in.

Phil Jackson Bio

Jackson was also relatively unproven. Sure, he led the CBA team very well. But before coaching the Bulls, he was a mere Assistant Coach in the NBA. But the fact of the matter is that he was a good coach, a great coach, someone that the players wanted.


I think LeBron wants to create his own dynasty, that's why I have faith that he'll stay here. He wants his own coach, not Jordan's coach or Kobe's coach. He's steering himself away from being Kobe and he's more geared towards following Jordan's footsteps on his own, without the guiding hand of a Phil Jackson.

Regardless of my babble, I still think we land Phil Jackson. It's in the best interest of Gilbert: more media attention, great coach. He's willing to throw down the money for it too. Nate might seem a little far-fetched.

My choices for coach:
1. Nate McMillan
2. Phil Jackson
3. Flip Saunders
... I guess nobody else out there is really worth it. Mo Cheeks? Johnny Davis? Seem like failures or more of the same to me.

 

[NarlCavs]

McMillan would be on my list of candidates after Saunders and Jackson. He's proven to be a good coach who has gotten the most out of the talent he has on that Sonics team. He also has played in a way to that suits and gets the best out of that talent.

I don't think the Cavs should choose a coach because Lebron wants him. That might be a very minor consideration and would be a factor only if a candidate was someone LeBron didn't want at all.

 

[TrueCavsFan23]

they said nate mcmillan wont let his players wear headbands in the playoffs.i bet if ray allen or rashard wore one he wouldnt have that rule.i also believe that he wouldnt say no to lebron about wearing a headband . Anyways i think he would be a great coach and maybe that would attract ray here also?

 

[CavsTalk]

Nate might be a good choice if your trying to get Daniels and Ray Allen, but Seattle mainly scores with their guards and they can all shoot from behind the arc ... how much do you think we are going to change to run the same system Nate Mcmillan runs? Sure he might adapt to our team needs, but how quickly and how effective can he do this? Phil Jackson is also going to attract players and get respect. Not to mention he has gotten rings with Big Men and He's gotten rings with MJ Scotty Horace Luc Longley... so he might be more up the the task... I just don't think he will be in it for the long run which is why I would prefer the Cavs get someone like Flip or Nate...

 

[Glen Infante]

I wouldn't mind a coach like Nate McMillian. But in order for him to be an effective coach, you need shooters on his team (hense the success in Seattle.) Nate was a shooter in the league, his ideal style of play is the mid to long range jumpshot. If we get Nate, we BETTER get some shooters.

 

[LyXo]

We already have guys capable of shooting
Sasha Pavlovic
Luke Jackson
LeBron James

He can most likely get the best out of our "shooters."

 

[NarlCavs]

I think McMillan would adjust his style to the talent he'd have with the Cavs. He's done a good job of using a style that works best with the talent he currently has with Seattle.
McMillan wasn't really a shooter as a player. He was a defensive minded team player. McMillan actually was very close to being a Cav as a player. There was a deal worked out after Hot Rod Williams signed his offer sheet with Miami that would have sent Hot Rod to Seattle for McMillan and Xavier McDaniel but Hot Rod rejected it.

I'd go after Flip Saunders first though since I think Phil Jackson is headed back to LA. I also think McMillan will stay in Seattle. The Cavs can't screw around too long and end up with a 2nd rate coach once again.

 

[Quench23]

Hmm... well he would develop James' three pointer a little more, ( which i dont want ) But he could help out Luke and Sasha with their shooting... Hmm though call

 

[Pioneer10]

McMillan has a couple of qualities that would make him a good choice (after the clear #1 IMO: PJ):

He's an ex player who played tough D which is plus - players respect guys who actually played in the NBA and would be a good mentor for Lebron.

He's gotten a bunch of gunners to play good team ball and most importantly defend. On top of that he's also adjusted his coaching style to the type of players he has which is huge. This is something Silas could do never do

Would be a good choice for the Cavs