Let's dust off the cobwebs and get right into it.
https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/p/lilIp0Ja88v4o2/my-nba-coach-candidate-tier-list-links
I think it was safe to say that Doc Rivers was not coming back after the trade deadline just because all of the Giannis being traded at the deadline rumors did not happen like people (cough) Shams (cough) had planned it. Giannis and Doc never saw eye to eye, the Bucks fired Budenholzer and they hired Giannis' choice of Adrian Griffin as the next head coach over the FO's choice of Nick Nurse and then they fired Griff after 43 games and replaced him with Doc. There was a lot of anger and remorse on Giannis' side and tension building thinking Griffin was the guy to coach them to compete for a Finals once again and Doc was holding them down and it was obvious he was using his leverage behind the scenes to basically say me or him hoping they would listen, and they did cause Doc is no longer HC but could be still on staff as an advisor which is another way of saying "we'll pay you out of your contract as long as you sing our praises" type thing. I always thought Giannis, and always will, but I do think that this hire can determine whether Giannis will stay or not. But, to add to that, I also think the Bucks not only want to keep him happy but also want to build a competitor in the East not by bringing in big contracts of aging veterans, but via draft and young assets on smaller deals that have a lot longer in this league that will surpass Giannis once he hangs it up. Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng are great examples of what the Bucks want while also have Giannis on the team who (if healthy) boosts the Bucks chances of making it to the Finals pretty high by himself. I think it is a two way streak and I like to compare this to the last few years of Reggie Miller in Indiana where the Pacers had a young, energetic squad around him that seemed to be the future of the team while Reggie was finishing out his last days competing to make it to the Finals, which could have happened if Ron didn't get a temper tantrum.
Player Developers
Sean Sweeney, San Antonio Spurs (Associate HC; 2025-?)
Most Bucks fans know who he is, he is basically a hometown kid for them. Grew up outside of Wisconsin in Minnesota, went to school at Green Bay, was a assistant for a while in Milwaukee from 2014-18. He has worked with Giannis and after he left, he went on to work with guys like Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin in Detroit then Luka, Kyrie, and Jalen Brunson in Dallas, where they made a deep run to the 2024 NBA Finals. He has spent this season as the Spurs AHC and they have had a remarkable turnaround. It seems everywhere he goes, the team or certain players stand out and show growth and improvement immediately and Sweeney might be someone Dieng or Rollins or AJ Green or their lottery pick needs this season to be immediate help for Giannis.
Tony Dobbins, Boston Celtics (assistant; 2020-?)
Sweeney was on the losing side in 2024, Dobbins was on the winning side. If the Bucks do make a external search like I hope and expect them to do, they would be crazy to not go after a Celtics assistant. Brad Stevens, Ime Udoka, and Joe Mazzulla all was able to go 9 or 10 deep whenever they wanted to and make it feel like they are still playing their starters for 48 minutes, and there is one person who has worked with all three in Boston and that is Dobbins. I am looking at their roster heading into the season and am amazed how they made all of this work without Tatum and I think it is the culture. I also look at the Hornets quick turnaround and I look at where Charles Lee came from and I think teams should look at that and atleast be inspired and feel confident that hiring someone off Mazulla's staff is something they need for their team.
Chris Quinn, Miami Heat (Associate HC; 2024-?)
Quinn has been a long time assistant for Miami and honestly will be a front runner for a lot of vacant jobs. Just like in Boston, Miami has built a culture where they can bring in undrafted guys or diamonds in the rough and find a role or space for them and make it work. I think a lot of teams would want to replicate the Heat and know that their culture plus a star equals similar success to Boston and that is probably what Milwaukee or Bucks fans believe.
Makes Sense, But...
Sam Cassell, Boston Celtics (assistant; 2023-?)
I like him and I do think he deserves a shot as a HC, but not in Milwaukee. I think Milwaukee should find a younger coach that can last a while instead of a 56 year old Cassell who may have ten at the most.
Taylor Jenkins, former Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach (2019-25)
Former Bucks assistant who I think will be coaching again whether this year or next. I think he is a top 10 or 15 coach right now when you stack him next to the other current coaches, but there are two things that make me put him down the list. One, are the Bucks looking for a experienced HC or looking for someone as a HC for the first time? And two, what happened in Memphis to go from the best young team to dysfunctional? You can blame Ja or Dillon Brooks, but there were already cracks before either of their incidents or in Brooks case, running his mouth.
Last Resort
Tom Thibodeau, former Chicago Bulls (2010-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-19), and New York Knicks (2020-25) Head Coach
If hired, he will be a top 10 coach as well, but it feels like a lot of teams forget why teams fire him and it is because he runs his starters almost the entire game and don't play his bench and wear his players down to the point they either get hurt or they don't have enough energy to make a deep run in the playoffs. If this was like 30 years ago, sure, but now that the best teams win due to their depth and coaches scheme to find the best time to give their stars a breather so they will have energy for a potential close game in the fourth if needed, Thibs does not give the Bucks any help in that department.
There is my coach candidate list. Please let me know your thoughts down below! I plan to continue this for the next NBA coach search, if there will be a next.