Ranking the first 5 candidates in the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching search
By Dalton Sell
After parting ways with Mike Budenholzer, the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching search is underway, and the first five candidates have been revealed.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Milwaukee has received permission to interview Kenny Atkinson of the Golden State Warriors. They are also expected to interview Bucks’ assistant Charles Lee and formed Hornets coach James Borrego. Adrian Griffin and Scott Brooks are also in the mix. To be clear, these are not the five finalists, as they are just the first five names the team will look at. With that said, let us rank the trio from “worst” to best.
No. 5 – Charles Lee
Charles Lee has been deserving of a head coaching gig for several years now. He’s had countless coaching interviews over the past few off-seasons and has already had two this off-season with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. It seems like Lee is inevitably going to get one of those two jobs. Lee wouldn’t be a disastrous hire for the Bucks, but his status as a first-year head coach could turn many off.
Given their contending status, Milwaukee cannot afford to have a “feel it out” season with a brand new head coach. To be beyond clear, not all first-year head coaches are destined to fail. Some have excellent track records. However, is that really a chance the Bucks are willing to take with so much on the line next season? They have to hit a home run with this hire to maximize the Bucks’ core as they age. Someone with experience at the highest level would make sense to lead the charge.
Lee should undoubtedly get a job with the Pistons or Raptors, but the Bucks’ job just may not be the right fit at this time.