Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Darvin Ham, Charles Lee linked to Pacers vacancy
Milwaukee Bucks assistant coaches Darvin Ham and Charles Lee are reportedly among the names linked to the Indiana Pacers’ head coaching vacancy.
After seeing their 2019-20 season crash down in flames on Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks face an offseason full of uncertainty and potential change.
That change may even come within their coaching staff as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday that the Indiana Pacers are seeking permission to interview Bucks assistant coaches Darvin Ham and Charles Lee in their search for a new head coach after dismissing Nate McMillan last month.
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In regards to Ham, the Bucks’ lead assistant under head coach Mike Budenholzer has been a popular name in the ongoing coaching carousel that’s in full force around the league.
Ham has been previously tied to head coaching vacancies like the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls, the latter whom Ham is set to interview with at some point over their own search as Wojnarowski previously reported.
Lee, on the other hand, is a new entrant to the ongoing head coaching carousel after being an assistant under Bud during their shared time with the Atlanta Hawks and the Bucks over the last two seasons.
While he may be an unknown to followers of the NBA at large, ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz detailed why Lee is seen as a rising figure within the coaching ranks and among his peers during his annual look at the coaching market back in June:
"“Fans of Lee, who played professionally overseas before spending a couple of years as an equity trader on Wall Street, tout him as a five-tool coach who is every bit as comfortable having meaningful conversations with a backup point guard as he is dining with a team owner. Those who have worked with him say he has an intuitive sense of how to inspire improvement from players but also understands high-level strategy and the preparation required to implement it. He is, in the words of one peer, someone who is “categorically going to be an NBA head coach.”"
As Woj went to report, both Ham and Lee are among the numerous assistant coaches that are all set to speak with the Pacers over the coming weeks and whether they each get further traction in the process remains to be seen.
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But what’s becoming clear is that the Bucks sport many desirable coaches that have managed to gain the attention of other teams around the league and we’ll just have to see if Budenholzer’s coaching tree sprouts another branch over this uncertain offseason.