When the Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer, the first thought that popped into my mind was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s window.
The only reason to fire Budenholzer would be the belief that his voice and style could no longer get this team over the top.
That’s fine and all but there’s a difference between “needing a change” and finding someone who can take a team to another place especially when the coach you just fired has already taken this team to that place.
So my next thought was “what retread would they hire”?
Nick Nurse? Frank Vogel? Doc Rivers? Do they make a run at Monty Williams?
There’s a fine line between getting a coach with experience and making a safe pick so if it doesn’t work out, you have an out.
Who would criticize hiring Nurse or Vogel? Both have won rings at previous stops but I don’t feel like that’s the type of change that would help the Bucks. Hire one of those two and you might as well keep Budenholzer.
The other route would be to hire the “hot” assistant.
That’s a place I didn’t consider because the Bucks aren’t too long removed from winning the title.
Would you trust Giannis’ prime years with a coach that was taking his first crack at being an NBA coach?
For Milwaukee, the answer was just that.
All signs are pointing toward the Bucks hiring Adrian Griffin.
Griffin has 15 years of experience as an NBA assistant coach. He’s more than qualified to be a head coach in the league.
Griffin’s first chance felt more like a Wes Unseld Jr. type of situation. A team working their way up the chain not a team with championship aspirations.
It’s been a strange offseason for the NBA coaching carousel.
Yes, Stephen Silas being fired in Houston didn’t shock me even though, those I’ve spoken to found it unfair.
But you don’t expect title-winning coaches like Nurse, Budenholzer, and Rivers to be fired in the same off-season.
Throw in Williams and you have a rare situation where three solid organizations with respectable rosters are looking for new coaches.
That made the possibility of Griffin getting a job seem even less likely but here we are.
It’s a risky move when you consider that the East isn’t getting any easier.
After a disappointing regular season, the Miami Heat find themselves in the NBA Finals.
Boston isn’t going anywhere soon and the Philadelphia 76ers are hoping that a new voice in their locker room will finally help Joel Embiid play in June.
Milwaukee can’t afford the miss on Griffin. Not with a roster that has Giannis on it but it was a gamble that the Bucks ownership was willing to take.
