Milwaukee Bucks Roundtable: Discussing the head coach search so far
By Adam McGee
5. Who do you think will actually be hired as Milwaukee’s next head coach?
MH: In a twist, I think somebody on the Bucks’ side gets turned off by Bud during the interview process. Perhaps it will be the opposite, and Bud will decide he doesn’t like somebody with the Bucks. I just can’t see it going down so simply that the Bucks would just go ahead and make the obvious choice by going with Budenholzer. Something weird is going to happen. The good news is I think the Bucks end up hiring either Toronto’s Nick Nurse or New Orleans’ Chris Finch, who are the shiny new toys about to hit the market. They’d be excellent hires as well.
BS: As a general rule of thumb, what I want the Bucks to do and what they actually do are two very different things. As stated above, I think Budenholzer would be an ideal fit for what Milwaukee need right now. I would also be happy with Hammon for the record. What they actually do however is anyone’s guess as I have zero faith in ownership after last years general manager fiasco. I thought for sure Justin Zanik would step straight into the GM role after John Hammond left for Orlando last offseason. Lo and behold, Milwaukee then spent the next few weeks interviewing everyone they could find before promoting their very own Director of Basketball Operations, Jon Horst. In summary, I’d like to think Budenholzer is the go-to in this instance but in times of need, we all must remember the number one rule in Milwaukee fandom. Never trust the Bucks.
BP: [Imagine the longest, loudest sigh humanly possible] Monty Williams. Never. Trust. The. Bucks.
JT: (looks to his left, looks to his right) Hmm, the Clippers and Doc Rivers haven’t finalized that contract extension yet, have they? (breaks out magnifying glass)
In all seriousness, I could see it being Monty Williams, who was among the first batch of names tagged to the position when Jason Kidd was fired in late January. I could also see it being Becky Hammon as well, despite the report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski saying that she “isn’t considered a frontline candidate.” The combination of the significance of hiring the first female head coach in history and the glowing praise she’s earned from a mentor like Gregg Popovich and players from the Spurs as well as LeBron James shouldn’t be overlooked at this point in the process.
Another thing that shouldn’t be overlooked is the fact that she reportedly met with ownership in regards to their GM search last summer and as I’ve said previously wondered aloud on a few editions of Win in 6, the fact that the meeting occurred potentially around the time they were mulling firing Kidd has me suspicious that the triumvirate had another plan in mind this time last year.
LW: Budenholzer, which I am also fine with.
AM: On top of wanting him to be the coach, at this point I believe Budenholzer will get the job.
Outside of Bud, I do have a feeling that Monty Williams will get to the final stages of the decision-making process. He seems like a candidate perfectly capable of winning over a room in an interview, and his recent front office experience may add an interesting wrinkle to how he can pitch himself to an ownership group and how he expresses his vision for the franchise.
Next: Win in 6 Podcast #215: Considering coaching candidates
To stay on top of all of the twists and turns that may still be ahead in the coaching search, stick with us at Behind the Buck Pass.