The Milwaukee Bucks remain focused on the digging themselves out of the 2-0 hole they found themselves in against the Brooklyn Nets at the moment. All while the NBA coaching carousel spins behind them.
The last week have seen head coaching jobs open up in Boston, Portland, Orlando and Indiana and more are likely to follow. And Bucks assistant coaches continue to be in high demand for such vacancies.
More from Bucks Rumors
- Bucks’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo reveals he nearly joined a different team
- NBA Rumors: Bucks eyeing young combo guard with one roster spot left
- NBA Rumors: Bucks attended a workout for former first round draft pick
- NBA Free Agency Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks targeting sharpshooting wing
- Important Milwaukee Bucks’ rumors on day 2 of 2023 NBA Free Agency
First reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, lead Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham is rumored to be in the mix for the Orlando Magic’s head coaching vacancy:
"“Another name I’ve heard is Darvin Ham, the Milwaukee Bucks assistant. If that team loses to the Nets, there are a lot of people around the league who think that can be the end for Mike Budenholzer and some members of his staff. Darvin came with him from Atlanta.”"
This comes after the Magic recently parted ways with former head coach Steve Clifford, who had previously led the club for the last three seasons to a 96-131 record.
Ham’s name has already been circulating in the Celtics’ vacancy after Brad Stevens made the jump to the front office to replace outgoing Danny Ainge as the team’s president of basketball operations. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday afternoon that Ham, along with fellow Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee, are among those that Stevens has asked for permission on to interview for the head coaching position.
Will the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching job become available?
While Ham’s name continues to circulate elsewhere around the league, perhaps the biggest question in light of recent developments is whether the Bucks will join the likes of the Blazers, Celtics, Magic and Pacers in short time.
Judging that they’re down 2-0 against the Nets and endured one of their worst playoff losses ever in Game 2, the Bucks are as lost as they have ever been under head coach Mike Budenholzer. Considering that his future in Milwaukee reportedly weighs on what the Bucks achieve in the postseason, the Bucks have done little to ensure that Budenholzer will last beyond this year if their play during the Eastern Conference Semifinals is any indication.
With the Budenholzer era on life support in Milwaukee, the question then becomes how gigantic of the fallout will we end up seeing. As Scotto noted, Bud’s likely exit in Milwaukee may spell the end for most, if not all of his coaching staff, Ham included.
That all depends on how much the Bucks’ front office wants to clean house and that could extend up to the upper levels of management if this season truly goes down in flames as it appears to at the moment.
It’s clear that Ham will have his opportunities around the league and the time is overdue for the longtime assistant to make the jump to the coaching ranks. Whether that opportunity may be entertained in Milwaukee certainly depends on the rest of their series with the Nets series shakes out.