More pub about Don Nelson - this time from Stein - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

mary · 02-02-2006, 07:19 AM

Don of a new age?
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

You will not see Don Nelson's name when ESPN.com provides your monthly opportunity to register bench grades and gripes via our NBA Coach Approval Ratings.

Not this February.

But by next February . . .

Don't be surprised if he's at midseason with his new team.

Multiple Nellie associates inform ESPN.com that the 65-year-old has dropped hints about considering other jobs after sitting out the rest of this season. It's highly unlikely that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would let Nelson go anywhere before next season anyway, and a couple of those same Nellie associates say a return to the bench won't happen unless someone out there offers him an annual salary of at least $5 million, but you can be pretty sure someone will in the off-season.

Reason being: There isn't a better coach on the planet who isn't working.

He's officially a Mavericks consultant these days, but Avery Johnson's Mavs don't consult Nelson for much. This is also the final season in which Nelson is earning $5 million, after which comes a drop to a more consultant-like $1 million (and change) but also more freedom to leave for a head-coaching spot, which is why a new gig would shock no one who knows him.

Media types in the Bay Area are already tossing out Nelson's name as an ideal successor to Mike Montgomery in Golden State, given that the Warriors haven't been to the playoffs since Nelson's last full season there in 1993-94. Nelson will also be mentioned as a candidate in Seattle -- barring the re-hiring of the recently promoted Bob Hill -- because of Nelson's longstanding friendship with Sonics general manager Rick Sund.

But I'm betting on Sacramento.

Nelson remains undeniably close with Warriors vice president Chris Mullin, but that alone isn't enough to legitimize the link. Team sources, for starters, insist that reports of friction between Montgomery and star guard Baron Davis are a media creation. Yet even if the Warriors continue to fade and miss the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season, Nelson can't be considered a serious contender to take over in Oaktown unless his relationship with Warriors owner Chris Cohan is mended. Don't forget that Cohan's messy 1995 parting with Nelson was not wrapped up until 1999, when an NBA arbirtator ruled that Nelson could keep $1.6 million that Cohan expected him to repay after Nelson was hired to coach the Knicks.

The Sonics? My suspicion -- endorsed by everyone I've presented it to -- is that Seattle won't be looking to hire a $5 million-a-year coach if Hill is not retained.

Which brings us to Sacramento, where Rick Adelman is in the final few months of his contract. If the Adelman era ends at season's end, as widely expected after a run of eight seasons, Nelson really is a natural successor there. For a few reasons.

1) As we said about the Lakers' Phil Jackson and Denver's George Karl, Nelson is sufficiently eccentric in his own right to have a shot at clicking with new Kings cornerstone Ron Artest.

2) Kings co-owner Joe and Gavin Maloof are undoubtedly willing to pay top dollar for coach, as evidenced by their not-so-secret attempt to hire Jackson before Phil returned to L.A.

3) Nelson is already working for the Maloofs. The madcap brothers own the production company that, with George Clooney as their producer, is putting together a basketball sitcom

Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations for the Mavericks and Nellie's son, doesn't doubt that his dad's name will come up for several jobs. Noting that the starting-over Toronto Raptors just created a front-office opening, Donnie said: "Anybody looking for a coach or GM should have Nellie on their list. He's already built three franchises from the ground up."

The younger Nelson is quick to add, though, that he'll be lobbying his father to turn down any offer that comes, and not simply because he'd rather see Big Nellie -- who left Monday for a vacation in New Zealand -- stay with the Mavs as a Red Auerbach-style godfather.

"I would just ask him, 'How many more mountains can you climb?'" Donnie said. "He's the second-winningest coach of all-time. He's achieved pretty much everything there is to achieve as a player, coach and executive. If he asks me, for health reasons and everything else, I'd tell him, 'You don't need it.'"

If that speech doesn't work . . . Donnie can always throw out the ESPN.com NBA Coach Approval Ratings as another deterrent.

dude1394 · 02-02-2006, 10:23 AM

Hah...you gotta hand it to nellie, he's an ultimate capitalist.

MavsFanFinley · 02-02-2006, 10:24 AM

I'd love to see him coaching again. Even better if he ends up in Golden State.

Drbio · 02-02-2006, 10:26 AM

He ought to stay retired. He's got nothing to prove and he won't win a championship with either Sacto or Golden State.

Bookit · 02-02-2006, 10:29 AM

Nellie likes golf too much to get back into coaching. Besides, coaching is a high stress job and Nellie was looking a little large his last few years. Stick to golf Nellie.

dude1394 · 02-02-2006, 10:30 AM

Heck man, coaching doesn't stress nelson out, it's all butta' to him. He constantly played golf during the season.

If he can earn another 5mill/year...he's there.

capitalcity · 02-02-2006, 11:42 AM

When did Maui get a pro team?

dirt_dobber · 02-02-2006, 11:54 AM

SPECIAL MIDWEEK EDITION Don of a new age?
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

You will not see Don Nelson's name when ESPN.com provides your monthly opportunity to register bench grades and gripes via our NBA Coach Approval Ratings.

Not this February.

But by next February . . .

Don't be surprised if he's at midseason with his new team.

Multiple Nellie associates inform ESPN.com that the 65-year-old has dropped hints about considering other jobs after sitting out the rest of this season. It's highly unlikely that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would let Nelson go anywhere before next season anyway, and a couple of those same Nellie associates say a return to the bench won't happen unless someone out there offers him an annual salary of at least $5 million, but you can be pretty sure someone will in the off-season.

Reason being: There isn't a better coach on the planet who isn't working.

He's officially a Mavericks consultant these days, but Avery Johnson's Mavs don't consult Nelson for much. This is also the final season in which Nelson is earning $5 million, after which comes a drop to a more consultant-like $1 million (and change) but also more freedom to leave for a head-coaching spot, which is why a new gig would shock no one who knows him.

Media types in the Bay Area are already tossing out Nelson's name as an ideal successor to Mike Montgomery in Golden State, given that the Warriors haven't been to the playoffs since Nelson's last full season there in 1993-94. Nelson will also be mentioned as a candidate in Seattle -- barring the re-hiring of the recently promoted Bob Hill -- because of Nelson's longstanding friendship with Sonics general manager Rick Sund.

But I'm betting on Sacramento.

Nelson remains undeniably close with Warriors vice president Chris Mullin, but that alone isn't enough to legitimize the link. Team sources, for starters, insist that reports of friction between Montgomery and star guard Baron Davis are a media creation. Yet even if the Warriors continue to fade and miss the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season, Nelson can't be considered a serious contender to take over in Oaktown unless his relationship with Warriors owner Chris Cohan is mended. Don't forget that Cohan's messy 1995 parting with Nelson was not wrapped up until 1999, when an NBA arbirtator ruled that Nelson could keep $1.6 million that Cohan expected him to repay after Nelson was hired to coach the Knicks.

The Sonics? My suspicion -- endorsed by everyone I've presented it to -- is that Seattle won't be looking to hire a $5 million-a-year coach if Hill is not retained.

Which brings us to Sacramento, where Rick Adelman is in the final few months of his contract. If the Adelman era ends at season's end, as widely expected after a run of eight seasons, Nelson really is a natural successor there. For a few reasons.

1) As we said about the Lakers' Phil Jackson and Denver's George Karl, Nelson is sufficiently eccentric in his own right to have a shot at clicking with new Kings cornerstone Ron Artest.

2) Kings co-owner Joe and Gavin Maloof are undoubtedly willing to pay top dollar for coach, as evidenced by their not-so-secret attempt to hire Jackson before Phil returned to L.A.

3) Nelson is already working for the Maloofs. The madcap brothers own the production company that, with George Clooney as their producer, is putting together a basketball sitcom

Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations for the Mavericks and Nellie's son, doesn't doubt that his dad's name will come up for several jobs. Noting that the starting-over Toronto Raptors just created a front-office opening, Donnie said: "Anybody looking for a coach or GM should have Nellie on their list. He's already built three franchises from the ground up."

The younger Nelson is quick to add, though, that he'll be lobbying his father to turn down any offer that comes, and not simply because he'd rather see Big Nellie -- who left Monday for a vacation in New Zealand -- stay with the Mavs as a Red Auerbach-style godfather.

"I would just ask him, 'How many more mountains can you climb?'" Donnie said. "He's the second-winningest coach of all-time. He's achieved pretty much everything there is to achieve as a player, coach and executive. If he asks me, for health reasons and everything else, I'd tell him, 'You don't need it.'"

If that speech doesn't work . . . Donnie can always throw out the ESPN.com NBA Coach Approval Ratings as another deterrent.

.

Drbio · 02-02-2006, 11:56 AM

No offense intended dirt_dobber but there is a good thread in the around the nba section going on this topic.

Evilmav2 · 02-02-2006, 11:59 AM

And just in case any of y'all are interested in seeing how the Kings' faithful are warming to the idea of Big Don coaching in Sacramento, you might check out the following link:

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10423

Drbio · 02-02-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilmav2

And just in case any of y'all are interested in seeing how the Kings' faithful are warming to the idea of Big Don coaching in Sacramento, you might check out the following link:

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10423

Great link Evil!

It's kind of odd to see the kings fans giving Dallas credit while saying no to Nellie. I think Nellie would make that team better. I personally would like for him to stay retired though. Calling us a good defensive team and great team in the past had to be hard for those kings fans.

Bookit · 02-02-2006, 12:11 PM

Wow, they don't like Nellie as a coach at all.

nowitzki_prophecy · 02-02-2006, 12:17 PM

Nellie coaching artest would be funny

chumdawg · 02-02-2006, 12:25 PM

When a true genius enters into the world, you will know him by this sign:
The dunces are all in confederacy against him.

chumdawg · 02-02-2006, 12:30 PM

By the way, those who think Nellie and Artest wouldn't be a fit made in heaven aren't aware of just how tremendous a defender Sidney Moncrief was under Nellie's tutelage. Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and by some estimates one of the best defenders of all time.

dirt_dobber · 02-02-2006, 12:30 PM

Thanks Doc,
Mods please feel free to move and merge!

Go Mavs!

Simon2 · 02-02-2006, 12:32 PM

Doesn't he have a sitcom coming up too. What a wasted 4 million. It would be great to see him coaching again. Just not on the Mavs.

sike · 02-02-2006, 01:07 PM

whoa...a simon sighting..

Nellie coaching a team that does not even have a chance doesn't excite me..

DevinHarriswillstart · 02-02-2006, 04:21 PM

If he joined Sacramento, they might as well institute a new rule at Arco where the team isn't even allowed to try on defense. It seems once a stigma always a stigma in this league.

MavsFanFinley · 02-02-2006, 07:31 PM

What's Donnie Nelson's contract status? I wonder if Nellie does return to coaching if Donnie might follow him shortly after?

Bookit · 02-02-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavsFanFinley

What's Donnie Nelson's contract status? I wonder if Nellie does return to coaching if Donnie might follow him shortly after?

Bite your tongue. Bad Karma.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-03-2006, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

If he joined Sacramento, they might as well institute a new rule at Arco where the team isn't even allowed to try on defense. It seems once a stigma always a stigma in this league.

Psh... You obviously never saw a Nellie-coached team before the Mavs. His Milwaukee teams were some of the best defensive teams in the NBA throughout the 80's. And if I remember correctly, his Golden State teams weren't that bad defensively either.

chumdawg · 02-03-2006, 06:15 AM

Shhh...don't tell the kids, spiral.

Nellie has always done whatever it would take to win. Always. No way he was going to beat those Boston, Philly, and LA teams on offense, so the Bucks played defense. No way he was going to beat Shaquille O'Neal on defense with Raef LaFrenz and Shawn Bradley, so he played offense.

Is this so hard to understand? To me, it's not.

You know, I find it funny looking back to see that in the '03 playoff run we spent well less than ten minutes a game without a center on the court. Oh, but Nellie, even if he had Shaq, wouldn't play him. Please.

And don't give me Patrick Ewing on the very down side of his career as a counter-example. Ewing was a dog.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-03-2006, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Shhh...don't tell the kids, spiral.

Nellie has always done whatever it would take to win. Always. No way he was going to beat those Boston, Philly, and LA teams on offense, so the Bucks played defense. No way he was going to beat Shaquille O'Neal on defense with Raef LaFrenz and Shawn Bradley, so he played offense.

Is this so hard to understand? To me, it's not.

You know, I find it funny looking back to see that in the '03 playoff run we spent well less than ten minutes a game without a center on the court. Oh, but Nellie, even if he had Shaq, wouldn't play him. Please.

And don't give me Patrick Ewing on the very down side of his career as a counter-example. Ewing was a dog.

Too true about the Shaq bit. Nellie would've had a FIELD DAY if he'd ever had the chance to coach Shaq, with Shaq's superb passing skills and all. I could just see him putting Shaq next to a forward with Walker-like passing skills and mid-range game and destroying everything in his path.

chumdawg · 02-03-2006, 07:24 AM

Drool.

Dooby · 02-03-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Shhh...don't tell the kids, spiral.

Nellie has always done whatever it would take to win. Always. No way he was going to beat those Boston, Philly, and LA teams on offense, so the Bucks played defense. No way he was going to beat Shaquille O'Neal on defense with Raef LaFrenz and Shawn Bradley, so he played offense.

Is this so hard to understand? To me, it's not.

You know, I find it funny looking back to see that in the '03 playoff run we spent well less than ten minutes a game without a center on the court. Oh, but Nellie, even if he had Shaq, wouldn't play him. Please.

And don't give me Patrick Ewing on the very down side of his career as a counter-example. Ewing was a dog.

I don't hang out here as much as I used too, but how can anybody say this anymore? Avery has a bunch of guys that could not play defense according to Don Nelson, and not only has them playing better D, but playing better overall.

Nelson was lazy at the end. He preferred playing golf to going to practice. F' him.

chumdawg · 02-03-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dooby

I don't hang out here as much as I used too, but how can anybody say this anymore? Avery has a bunch of guys that could not play defense according to Don Nelson, and not only has them playing better D, but playing better overall.

Nelson was lazy at the end. He preferred playing golf to going to practice. F' him.

Well, he didn't have Diop, and he didn't have Griffin. So there's two of five in the starting lineup. (Yes, I know, he had Griffin before. He also won 60 games that year.)

Nellie may well have been lazy in '04, but he was on his game in '03 (and every year up until then). I don't have a whole lot of doubt in my mind that if Nellie's team hadn't been broken up in that ill-fated summer of '03, he would have already won a championship by now, or been very close.

You may, but I don't.

As I always say, genius strikes where it pleases. And it struck right on top of Don Nelson's silver head.

Rhylan · 02-03-2006, 10:31 AM

Nellie is great at building franchises, but he's not great at getting over that proverbial hump. It's happened three times, now. I love the guy for his personality, and his attitude, and his smarts, and what he did for the Mavs while here... but he lost interest in the team, and they've been better since he left! He hardly even coached last year.

It's Nellie's very attitude and approach, that make him such a great innovator, GM, and resurrector of franchises, are what rob him of the focus and fine tuning necessary to build a champion. He's a set-up man.

sike · 02-03-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhylan

Nellie is great at building franchises, but he's not great at getting over that proverbial hump.

you only say that because it's always been true.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-03-2006, 07:18 PM

Nellie never got his team "over the proverbial hump" because he never had a franchise player. The closest thing he ever had was Dirk, who was still coming into his own, and who knows, maybe if Dirk hadn't gone out in the WCF we would've been the champs. (You could also make a case for Cwebb, but he turned out to be a headcase) But honestly folks, how many championships do you think Pat Riley would have if the Lakers never had that no. 1 pick and landed Magic? Or do you think Phil Jackson could've coached that Milwaukee to victory over the likes of Bird's Celtics, Moses Malone's Sixers, Isiah's Pistons, or Magic's Lakers? Do you think Greg Popovich or Larry Brown would've gotten that Golden State team "over the proverbial hump" by going through the Stockton/Malone Jazz, or Hakeem's Rockets, and taking out Jordan's Bulls in the finals? Please...

You know, Nellie was actually offered the coaching job in Boston before they rekindled their dynasty, but he turned it down because he turned it down in favor of Milwaukee. You think if Don Nelson had coached Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Cedric Maxwell etc... he wouldn't have gotten that team "over the hump?" Nonsense. Nellie would have three or maybe even more championships, (lord knows Nellie was a better coach than KC Jones ever was) Imagine Nellie's genius with the greatest frontline in NBA history at his disposal.

dude1394 · 02-03-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nowitzki_prophecy

Nellie coaching artest would be funny

Artest would love nellie. He wants to be an offensive powerhouse to get more bucks. Nellie may be as crazy as artest.

dude1394 · 02-03-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Psh... You obviously never saw a Nellie-coached team before the Mavs. His Milwaukee teams were some of the best defensive teams in the NBA throughout the 80's. And if I remember correctly, his Golden State teams weren't that bad defensively either.

I like nellie but it seems like he had turned a page on defense. I do wonder if he may think that he was wrong about being able to coach defense to these players. If not he isn't as smart as I think he is.

MavKikiNYC · 02-06-2006, 06:32 PM

Planning playoffs? Call Nellie

DON NELSON PUT the word out to three Western Conference teams this week: If you want to make the playoffs this season, fire your current coach immediately and hire me. It's a bold statement, but in regards to the Kings, it's undoubtedly true; the Warriors, it's quite possibly true; and the SuperSonics, it's probably wishful thinking.
You see, Nelson will stop earning $5 million a year from Mark Cuban at season's end, and even at age 65, he still enjoys receiving monthly paychecks. He's definitely planning to coach somewhere next season.
So why not start the search now while some teams are desperate?
Like Sacramento, which thrust itself back into the playoff conversation by acquiring Ron Artest last week. Now if the Kings only had a coach whose philosophies were consistent with the wide-open playing styles of Artest, Mike Bibby and Bonzi Wells.
That's Nelson.
As for a possible return to the Warriors, there's just too much bad blood between Nelson and Chris Cohan for it to be even a remote possibility. That said, you wonder if the 61/2-year coach of the Warriors wouldn't be the best thing for Mike Dunleavy, just as he was for Chris Mullin.
Seattle has some interesting pieces. Then again, Denver has more, and Nelson already has a history of uprooting George Karl.
Stay tuned. With Kevin Garnett on the trade block and Nelson available as a free agent, the Western playoff race could get real interesting.

dude1394 · 02-06-2006, 06:33 PM

So you think avery solicits much advice from nellie? Or can find him for that matter.

V2M · 02-06-2006, 07:38 PM

I hope he doesn't take along Donnie & Del with him.

GhostFace · 08-25-2012, 06:02 AM

^ uh.... What?

FreshJive · 08-29-2012, 10:21 PM

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...-of-small-ball

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EricaLubarsky · 09-06-2012, 09:02 AM

^ uh.... What?