According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Milwaukee Bucks are starting their coaching search with a number of experienced candidates under consideration.
It may have taken a little longer than many anticipated following the conclusion of the team’s season last Saturday, but it seems as if the Milwaukee Bucks are finally ready to get their coaching search underway.
Rumors had emerged linking the Bucks with former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer in recent days, but there had been little in the way of a more substantial list of candidates outside of speculation.
That changed on Thursday morning, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Bucks would get their coaching search underway.
Sources: Milwaukee embarking on a coaching search with a list of candidates that includes several former head coaches: Steve Clifford, Mike Budenholzer, Monty Williams, David Fizdale and David Blatt. Bucks plan to interview those coaches -- and possibly several more.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 3, 2018
Worth noting is the fact that Wojnarowski reports these are just some of the candidates included on Milwaukee’s shortlist, and further emphasizes “possibly several more” could figure into the Bucks’ thinking.
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Paying closer attention to the names listed by Wojnarowski, a clear profile quickly emerges, though. All five of the coaches in question have been head coaches in the NBA within the last three years, with three even having coached in the league last season.
There’s a very good chance the Bucks’ interview process will also involve some highly thought of assistant coaches, but for the moment it seems apparent that experience and proven ability are something that interests ownership.
Heading into a crucial chapter in the franchise’s history, any of those five options could arguably be viewed as a safe pair of hands, capable of building a more consistent Bucks team and getting more out of the team’s players.
But the question for many will likely center on whether that’s enough. Could a bolder hire pave the way for the Bucks to take a greater step forward and unlock a new level in terms of potential? It’s certainly possible.
The dilemma for Milwaukee’s decision-makers comes with having to balance their ultimate goals with also doing enough to prove to Giannis Antetokounmpo over the remainder of his current contract that this is the organization he needs to invest the prime years of his NBA career in.
Of those candidates whose names did emerge via Wojnarowski’s report on Thursday, it’s worth noting that Budenholzer, Blatt and Fizdale are all considered as leading candidates for the New York Knicks’ job.
The Knicks are widely expected to make a hire as early as this week after interviewing nearly a dozen candidates, with David Blatt, Mike Budenholzer and David Fizdale regarded as prime contenders
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 2, 2018
Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Khris Middleton’s eye-opening playoff play
How quickly the Bucks act in comparison to other teams with vacancies may determine how many candidates are ultimately considered for the job. An interesting few days lie ahead.