The Los Angeles Clippers head coaching vacancy is exciting and challenging at the same time. They had their most successful season, yet fans and players, specifically their superstars, had a bitter memory of the season. It is certain that expectations will be much higher next year, as the championship window is a narrow one. But one former Clippers coach who seems to be tired of mediocrity is willing to sit on the hot seat, with the glaring lights of LA on his face.

Per ESPN:

Although Alvin Gentry has a standing invitation to join Mike D’Antoni’s staff as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers next season, he’d prefer to return to Los Angeles as a head coach … with the Clippers.

“If you look at that job, it’s probably the best one out there,” Gentry said of the Clippers vacancy, Thursday in an interview on ESPNLA 710. “When you take into consideration the talent level that they have and what they did this year.”

League sources have told ESPNLosAngeles.com that Gentry will be considered for the Clippers job, once the process gets more serious.

Other candidates the Clippers are expected to consider, according to league sources, include former Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, Golden State assistant coach Michael Malone, Indiana associate head coach Brian Shaw, and Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins.

Gentry, who was the Clippers head coach from 2000-03, said he’s maintained good relationships with the franchise even though his previous tenure ended with him being fired midway through his third season.

But that young team — with Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette, Darius Miles, Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson – just wasn’t ready to turn the corner yet.

“The one year (2001-02) we went 39-43, we just could not win some of the close games down the stretch because we were just so young,” Gentry said.

Odom subsequently publicly apologized to Gentry for his immaturity in those years.

This Clipper team though is anything but young.

“It just needs a little tweaking,” Gentry said. “I don’t think you need to have someone come in and do completely the opposite. Vinny [Del Negro] did a good job and I think everyone knows that.

“They need someone who can manage egos, that’s huge with that team.

“You need someone who can manage the bench. That bench has been great for them and pretty much won probably 10-12 games outright for them.

“And you need someone who can come up with plays at the end of the game, a little more ball movement maybe.

“They [the Clippers] played Memphis [in the first round of the playoffs] and Memphis they uglied up the game. It’s a grind with them and they couldn’t quite get over the hump. But that team is very talented and talented enough that with a few things here and there, they could still be playing right now.”

Gentry, who took the Phoenix Suns on a surprising run to the 2010 Western Conference Finals, said he’s been in touch with Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni throughout the season. He also recently interviewed in Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes away from his family’s hometown of Shelby, N.C.

“I would obviously like to be a head coach with any team in the league,” he said, when asked if he’d prefer a head coaching job, or an assistant job on D’Antoni’s staff.

“I would love to run the team again. But if you weren’t gonna be a head coach and the opportunity was going to be there, I still think the Lakers are the most historic franchise in this league.”

“Congratulations! We got the coach fired!”

The NBA is a players’ league. This is one fact that every coach will have to face. When the superstar and the head coach collide, you know who’s going to win. There are so many precedents. In the cases of Howard vs. Gundy and James vs. Brown(didn’t see that coming), despite the coach’s track record, when faced with the possibility of a superstar walking out the door, the coach gets the axe. This will go on, since every year there are many superstars and only one champion. Someone is to blame, and it ain’t the franchise player.

per LA Times:

That left Donald Sterling to clear up everything, and some of you think this job is easy.

 

 

Say what you want about Sterling; it’s all true. But whenever I put a question to him he tries to provide an answer.

 

 

I told him I didn’t understand the rationale behind Del Negro’s dismissal.

 

 

“The coach is a wonderful man, and I’m sad about the whole thing,” Sterling said.

 

 

“Was this done,” I asked, “just to hang on to Chris Paul?”

 

 

“I always want to be honest and not say anything that is not true,” Sterling said. “So I’d rather not say anything.

 

 

“But you know, the coach did a really good job. I think he did. And I liked working with him. There are just factors that make life very complicated and very challenging.”

 

 

So the Clippers are trying to hang on to Paul.

 

 

But don’t they already have him locked up? The team has done everything to make him comfortable, even hire his favorite PR guy from New Orleans.

 

 

 

Do the Clippers really think he would accept almost $28 million less to sign elsewhere?

 

 

“Here you have two inexperienced people running your basketball operation in [GM] Gary Sacks and [son-in-law] Eric Miller,” I told Sterling. “And Andy Roeser doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to basketball personnel decisions.

 

“So I wonder, is this decision being made because the players are now calling the shots? Am I off base?”

 

“No, you’re not off base,” Sterling said. “This is a players’ league, and, unfortunately, if you want to win you have to make the players happy. Don’t you think that’s true?”

 

I answered: “No. Money makes players happy.”

 

Sterling disagreed.

 

“It’s not entirely true. Money is not the only thing that makes them happy,” Sterling said. “They want to win, and they want the best opportunity to win. Do they know what the best opportunity to win is? I frankly don’t know.

 

 

“But if you have special players, and special players think that they know the best opportunity to win, you have to support them.”

 

 

That would suggest the team’s two special players, Blake Griffin and Paul, privately were not supportive of Del Negro.

 

 

Easy to blame the coach.

Here’s a treat for college basketball fans who are currently in limbo. No games, end of the signing period and waiting for the NBA draft to see how their stars fare. Look back and watch the best dunks of the past season. These guys are eager for the spotlight and they don’t have a contract yet, so it’s always with feeling.

The Most Valuable Player has the Most Valuable Footsteps. Lebron James is  at the top of his game, where everybody wants to be. It’s natural that his signature shoe line would be number 1. Firmly perched at the top, with no one close behind (Kobe is a far second). While we give most of the credit to the endorser, we can’t deny that the kicks are also bitchin’.

per Forbes.com:

Nike is James’ biggest marketing partner and helps put him on top of the NBA’s top-earners from endorsements. Nike re-signed James in 2010 in a deal that James’ business manager Maverick Carter calls “more of a joint venture.” Forbes estimates that James earns $20 million annually, including royalties from the Beaverton, Ore footwear giant.

 

 

The second best-selling active NBA pitchman isKobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. His Kobe 8 signature shoes sold $50 million at U.S. stores last year. Bryant has been part of the Nike family since 2003. The 15-time All-Star was an Adidas athlete for the first six years of his career. Bryant’s shoe sales in the U.S. were down in 2012, but he is the NBA’s biggest star in China and his Nike sneakers sell briskly in Asia.

 

 

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks ranks third with U.S. retail sales of $40 million for hisJordan Melo M9. Anthony is part of the Jordan Brand roster, which also includes Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.

 

 

Today’s NBA stars are all still looking up at global icon Michael Jordan. The Nike-owned Jordan Brand has been on fire with $2 billion in U.S. sales in 2012, according to SportsOneSource. Susquehanna Financial analyst Christopher Svezia estimates the brand grew 25-30% globally in 2012.  The royalty agreement is worth more than $60 millionannually for Jordan, who last played an NBA game in 2003.

 

 

Nike released the Air Jordan XX8 in February. It is the 28th shoe in the Jordan franchise. In addition to new Air Jordans, Nike continues to put out retro versions of the franchise with an average selling price of $130 to $150. The Jordan Brand commands a 56% market share in basketball, while the Nike brand has 37%. Adidas has a 5% share and Reebok is at 2% in the U.S.

Adidas inked Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose to a 13-year deal in 2012, which is expected to pay out at least $185 million. Despite missing the entire 2012-13 season, Rose’s signature shoe has gained traction with sales of $25 million in 2012. But Rose still lags the top guys at Nike.

 

 

Adidas’ other top endorsers have really struggled. John Wall signed with Adidas subsidiary, Reebok, in 2010 for $25 million over five years. Reebok had high expectations for Wall, who was a heavily-hyped star after a year at the University of Kentucky, but sales of his signature shoes have disappointed. Retail sales were only $5 million in 2012 and in January Wall departed the Reebok brand for that of its parent, Adidas.

 

 

Dwight Howard continues a longtime trend of NBA big men struggling to sell shoes. Adidas moved only $5 million worth of Howard product last year. Powell says the soap opera surrounding his departure from Orlando and first year in Los Angeles hurt him in the marketplace. “Your average 10-year-old can envision being Kobe. He has no way of being Dwight Howard,” says Powell.

U.S. Retail Basketball Shoe Sales

LeBron James (Nike): $300 million

Kobe Bryant (Nike): $50 million

Carmelo Anthony (Jordan): $40 million

Kevin Durant (Nike): $35 million

Derrick Rose (Adidas): $25 million

John Wall (Reebok): $5 million

Dwight Howard (Adidas): $5 million

The Dwightmare continues. The plot thickens. The Dwight train has two additional stopovers, as Dwight Howard has reportedly considered Golden State and Atlanta as possible destinations. Of course, these two teams have been pursuing him since last year, but it more than a long shot for them to be chosen. It seems that Dwight has re-evaluated, and is now considering his options. After a dismal season with the Lakers, it’s hard to blame him.

per Press Telegram:

A source familiar with Howard’s thinking says he plans to test free agency and has considered the Lakers, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Golden State.

Nothing remains binding, though. The source added Howard’s main concern involves “what team he feels has the best chance to win championships, has the best team and system around him.” The source also stressed Howard has not and will not ask the Lakers to make any moves on his behalf.

Kupchak acknowledged the team has made unspecified contingency plans in case Howard leaves. Either way, Howard can’t officially re-sign until July 10 when a moratorium on NBA business is lifted.

“The sooner he makes his mind up, the better for everybody,” Kupchak said. “But I told him when he first got here, ‘I’m not going to bug you. I believe this is the place for you. When you make your mind up, let me know.’ “

After all, Kupchak believes Howard will end his NBA career with a Lakers retired jersey and a statue. Assuming, Howard continues wearing purple and gold, of course.

Said Kupchak: “He’s going to have a great year next year.

The best players of the NBA (perhaps the world) have been named. They come from five different teams, and one of basketball’s greatest arguments have been brought up again: Is Tim Duncan a power forward or a center? These are familiar faces, none of them are first-time awardees. They come from the batch of 1996 to the batch of 2007. All of them have displayed basketball excellence this year.

per Reuters:

The coaches have the hot seat in the playoffs. While armchair coaches often judge like sages with their 20/20 hindsight, coaches have to make decisions on the fly. Only the results will determine the wisdom of your decision.

Frank Vogel is revered as one of the better young coaches today. He has handled Indiana well, all the way to the Conference Finals, and many have forgotten that they don’t have their top scorer, Danny Granger with them. His team went toe-to-toe with the best team in Game 1, but he will still be harshly judged for the loss.

per NY Times:

Sometimes coaches stick with a player too long. Sometimes they have too much of a quick hook.

 

 

Indiana’s Frank Vogel was still being criticized Thursday, long after he sent the Pacers out on the floor for the game’s final possession in Miami without Roy Hibbert — and that wasn’t even the first time he took heat this postseason for subbing out his big man.

 

 

From costly changes to untimely timeouts, here are some of the questionable coaching maneuvers in this year’s playoffs.

 

 

Frank Vogel, Indiana, Eastern Conference finals, Game 1. Vogel took Roy Hibbert off the floor for Miami’s final possession in favor of a smaller, quicker lineup that could make switches. But when he’d done the same thing on the previous possession, LeBron James simply drove right to the rim for a basket without the 7-foot-2 shot blocker standing in his way. With no Hibbert and no time to do anything else, James went right to the basket again on the last play, making a layup just before time expired for a 103-102 overtime victory. Vogel would later say that next time, Hibbert would probably be on the floor in that situation.

Jason Kidd was one of the league’s best players in his prime. Even until a decade ago, he was a coveted veteran point guard. As the game went faster, it was hard for Kidd to keep up. He is still a good clutch player, a valuable mentor to younger point guards and a locker room leader. Signs pointed to a possible retirement after this season, but the Knicks coach claims otherwise.

per ESPN:

Bad news for any Knicks fans hoping Jason Kidd would retire: both GM Glen Grunwald and coach Mike Woodson said they expect Kidd to return next season.

“We had a great meeting with Jason yesterday. We hope he’s going to be back and from his comments to us we expect him to be back next year and he’ll be a big contributor to the team like he was this year,” Grunwald said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM on Tuesday after meeting with Kidd.

 

 

Kidd played an important role in helping the Knicks win 54 games in the regular season but struggled mightily in the playoffs.

The 40-year-old was scoreless in his last ten games. The Knicks were essentially playing four on five on offense when Kidd was on the floor. He missed his final 18 shots of the season.

Grunwald on Monday defended Kidd’s play in the postseason.

“It wasn’t his role to score,” the GM said. “He contributed in so many different ways that it’s hard to list, on and off the court. So I don’t think that was a big factor in our struggles in the Indiana series. Obviously he would have liked to make a few of those shots, but he didn’t. So that wasn’t the reason we lost.”

Kidd is under contract for two more seasons but said during the year that he was unsure about playing in 2013-14.

 

Kidd indicated to the organization that he will be back next year but, as Woodson noted, “that can change. You never know.”

Kidd’s uncertain status leaves the Knicks with a murky situation at point guard. Raymond Felton is coming back, but it is unclear who will play behind Felton.

There are observers that contradict the oft-mentioned notion that this is a weak draft. Perhaps there are no headliners, as most are looking at next year’s Andrew Wiggins, but the good front offices can find hidden treasures and diamonds in the rough that can shine with some polishing.  Front offices are complaining since they need to evaluate and work harder, attend the draft combines to find a good pick, unlike picking Lebron James or Anthony Davis, which were no-brainers.

Otto Porter did not participate in AAU basketball tournaments, and this reluctance seems to have given his game a different level of maturity. It is noticed by astute observers, and soon, the entire basketball world.

per SI.COM:

It’s Georgetown’s Otto Porter Jr., my favorite player in this draft and the only prospect available who offers the combination of being a good fit for his position (small forward); a proven high-usage, high-efficiency scorer who can shoot threes (making 44.1 percent in Big East games) and attack on the interior; and an elite defender. As a sophomore last season, Porter was the most complete player in college basketball, which was remarkable given that he was just 19 — 16 months younger than McLemore and eight months younger than Shabazz Muhammad. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Porter played with such savvy, so early, after avoiding the AAU system altogether. He arrived in college untainted and under-hyped, and within two years his game surpassed that of nearly all the summer-circuit stars in his class.

 

 

As high as I am on Porter, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is even higher. Boeheim is not known as a criminal over-praiser of competition, either. In a pre-Final Four press conference, he declined to take the bait about a guy in contention for the No. 2 pick:

 

 

Q: Obviously the matchup with Trey Burke, how is that going to play out?

Boeheim: I don’t pay much attention to matchups. It’s teams. Teams play. Trey Burke has had a great year. Michigan is a great team, probably the best offensive team in the country. It will be a great challenge for us.

 

 

Praise, but more of the crankily honest variety. Burke had great year. Michigan was the best offensive team in the country — the stats backed that up. Now, here’s Boeheim after beating Georgetown in the Big East tourney semifinals, getting set up to praise Orange small forward C.J. Fair but instead going full man-crush on someone else:

 

 

Q: Coach, C.J. was basically shut down by Otto Porter the whole game and then had those two huge plays, including the steal at the end. What did that mean for the game?

 

 

Boeheim: Otto Porter ‑‑ I hate to say this in some ways, but I was talking today before the game, I think he’s the best all-around player I’ve seen in this league. I don’t think I’ve seen a better all around player. The guy plays defense. … I think he’s a great defensive player. I think he’s a great passer. I think he obviously can shoot the ball, and he just ‑‑ really, I don’t see a weakness in his game from a perimeter point of view of a guy that I’ve seen in this league over the years.

 

 

There’s been so many great players, but centers, power forwards, point guards, two guards, but I don’t think I’ve seen a better small forward in this league. He’s just a complete player. If we were still in this league, I’d be saying that to get him out. But we’re not.

 

Roy Hibbert isn’t new to the game, and neither is Shane Battier. Perhaps this is the highest level that Roy Hibbert is playing, and he now plays a much major role. Shane Battier has won on every level in basketball. He is now defending their team’s NBA title. He knows what it takes to win, and he knows that sometimes you have to resort to “unorthodox” tactics.

Hibbert and Battier’s level of knowledge converge, as Roy Hibbert tweets about what was previously branded as ‘inadvertent.’

per Twitter: