A new report reveals Bucks’ interesting plans in head coaching search

After five years with Mike Budenholzer at the helm, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking for a new head coach.

By far, the most popular name to pop up in conversations amongst fans has been Nick Nurse, who was just relieved of his duties with the Toronto Raptors at the end of the season. Nurse would make a lot of sense for the Bucks, but it seems like the front office is not in a rush to hire anyone just yet. In fact, it seems like the Bucks will be leaving no stone unturned as they assess candidates, as The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (Subscription required) has reported that the front office is currently looking at several coaches who are already employed for their opening. This is an interesting reveal that widens the playing field entirely.

A new report reveals Bucks’ interesting plans in head coaching search

Looking at the current landscape of coaches across the league, there are several who make sense for Milwaukee, but the question is just how attainable they may be. First and foremost, it goes without saying that Erik Spoelstra, the head coach of the Miami Heat, is not going to be leaving South Beach anytime soon, though that would be a perfect fit. Two other long shots are Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers, as both are likely to stick around in their current situations.

One potential dark horse would be Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers. Many will remember that Carlisle was linked to the Bucks during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Budenholzer’s future with the team was cloudy at that point, but after the Bucks prevailed over the Brooklyn Nets in an exhausting seven games series, those rumors quieted. Of course, the Bucks went on to win a title, which cemented Budenholzer’s status as the team’s head coach moving forward. Two years later, perhaps the team could reignite that interest in the NBA Champion.

Could the Bucks also potentially be looking at employed assistant coaches for their opening? Former Buck Sam Cassell could be an option, as he’s well-liked on the Philadelphia 76ers’ staff and has been brought up in coaching rumors for quite some time. Mike D’Antoni is currently a coaching advisor for the New Orleans Pelicans, but he’s reportedly been interested in coaching the Bucks before. Jake Fischer, who was previously with Bleacher Report, reported that D’Antoni had interest in coaching the Bucks if the job became available in 2021. This team playing in a D’Antoni offense would be something to see. It’s unclear if Milwaukee would have an interest in him, but it’s worth monitoring for the time being.

For now, all fans can do is wait for more rumors regarding Milwaukee’s next coach. It will be interesting to see how many of the names mentioned in this article will be brought up in Milwaukee’s coaching conversations.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.