Around the League: May 2014

[INFORMER]

The players were lobbying to keep him.

[In2ition]

I had a friend who is a big Laker fan tell me today that Mark Jackson should be the next Laker coach. He's the right fit and he is going to tell his buddy Mitch to get that deal done.

[Superbone]

Enter the D'Antoni...

[carey]

6 open jobs already. NY, L.A., Utah, Detroit, Minnesota, & now Golden State.

[JeffreyLee]

6 open jobs already. NY, L.A., Utah, Detroit, Minnesota, & now Golden State.

Im open to taking the job for any of them. I can quarente a top 3 lotto pick to any team that will have me.

[Superbone]

6 open jobs already. NY, L.A., Utah, Detroit, Minnesota, & now Golden State.

Im open to taking the job for any of them. I can quarente a top 3 lotto pick to any team that will have me.

Is that French?

[JeffreyLee]

6 open jobs already. NY, L.A., Utah, Detroit, Minnesota, & now Golden State.

Im open to taking the job for any of them. I can quarente a top 3 lotto pick to any team that will have me.

Is that French?

It is, it translates to "oops"

[ShelC]

Was never a fan of Mark Jackson post playing career. I feel like once he got the itch to coach, he'd lobby and preach during his broadcasts to show how smart he was and how good a coach he'd be. One of the sports writers said it best...he's a great motivator, but that doesn't always make a great coach. And I'm sure some players were lobbying for him because they liked him and he supported them and had their back. But again, that doesn't always make a great coach.

I don't think GS was out to get him by any means, especially after the success they've seen the last few years. But it's obvious there was a strain in the relationship and they didn't want to deal with him. Maybe they also thought he wasn't the best coach to take this team to the next level. It was their decision, right or wrong.

[Sunsfan4life]

Although its a better job at the moment, I'd be pretty shocked if Steve Kerr spurned the Knicks for the W's.

Rick Welts is in GS though and he does have ties to him for when Kerr was here.

Heard Stan Van Gundy is being mentioned as well as Lional Hollins in GS. Hollins might be a nice fit.

[INFORMER]

Mark Jackson speaks about his firing:

I want to thank the Warriors organization for giving me a chance and thank the incredible fans in the area. And thank my players who I love and appreciate.

We accomplished a lot in three years and we should be proud. I wish them nothing but the best.

But to me, now the pressure’s on for them to get a championship. It’s not the time for them to be patient any more. This is a championship-caliber team. We were in the playoffs without David last year, and we were without Bogut this year.

When this team is healthy, it is a legit contender. That’s something that we’re all looking at going forward.

Read more: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2 ... -hes-gone/

[Ring_Wanted]

In my opinion, besides health, the Warriors need a better bench to be legit contender.

[Ring_Wanted]

And a better coach.

[carey]

What they really need is for Bogut to stay healthy.

[INFORMER]

What they really need is for Bogut to stay healthy.

They knew what they were getting into.

[Charlie Smithy!]

What they really need is for Bogut to stay healthy.

They knew what they were getting into.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn0WdJx-Wkw

[Ring_Wanted]

Polish media is reporting that Gortat is going to sign the mandatory 10M per multiyear contract with the Wizards. Supposedly they got their info from Gortat's father.

If true that's a solid deal for at least three years. Gortat gave a lot to the Wizards and probably is a better fit with Wall than options like Monroe.

I guess they'll pay Ariza too.

Depending on what picks we make, I could be interested in Porter.

[INFORMER]

I don't think the Wizards will move Porter.

I probably wouldn't offer Gortat more than $8-9 million a year.

[Ring_Wanted]

10M is the going rate for centers who can walk and chew at the same time. It's not a bad deal.

[INFORMER]

And nearly every one of those "going rate" deals blows up in a team's face.

[Ring_Wanted]

Sure, but the point is that if you want a big man who can play, you better be ready to pay at least 10M. If you can say that your big man in only overpaid by 1-2M per within the range we are talking about, you actually have a good real world deal.