Coaching Targets for the Nuggets

Now that the Nuggets have an opening at the head coach position, they will be looking at a myriad of candidates. Picking a new head coach is not about getting the best guy, they need to get the best guy that fits in with the current players on the roster. The Nuggets like the run and they have a roster that allows them to run, they need to find a coach that will let the run, but one that will also focus on the defensive end more. Contrary to popular belief, a team can be a fast paced team and still have an efficient defense. Last season, the Nuggets had a top 10 defense in terms of efficiency and they were also top 10 in offense.

I think the Nuggets really want Brian Shaw. Shaw has no head coaching experience, but has been an assistant for Phil Jackson in Los Angeles and he was also an assistant for Frank Vogel last season. Shaw would let the Nuggets run their fast paced offense, but he would also help fix their defense. He has experience in defensive schemes because of his tenure in Indiana, where the Pacers had a fearsome defense. A couple of teams have already reached out to Shaw for a head coaching position, such as Brooklyn, Detroit and the Los Angeles Clippers, therefore the Nuggets will have to pay a lot of money in order to sign him.

Lionel Hollins has had some issues with the Memphis front office, in terms of decision making. There have been talks of a "coaching trade" between the Nuggets and the Grizzlies. Memphis has shown interest in signing George Karl to be their next coach. They like his style and they have enough talent in order to produce with him. If Hollins came to Denver, he would bring defensive intensity to a roster where some of the players probably dont even know what defense means. If Hollins could turn players like Javale McGee and Kenneth Faried into good post defenders, this team will be very tough to beat. I also think Hollins would let the Nuggets run a fast paced game because the Nuggets have the players necessary to executed that type of offense. I think Hollins would be the best possible option for the Nuggets.

I like Melvin Hunt, who is currently an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets. I think he is a talented young coach who actually focuses on defense. Even if he is not hired as the head coach, I would like it if the new head coach kept him on as an assistant. I like the way he focuses on the defense, but since he comes from the Karl tree, it could be all talk.

There are many other coaches that the Nuggets could consider, but most of them are lesser known assistants. Assistants have already been hired for all coaching vacancies this offseason and it looks as if teams don't want to go after old blood such as Stan Van Gundy or Jerry Sloan. I would like it if the Nuggets would go after both of them, but Sloan might get a front office position in Utah and I am not sure how Van Gundy would fit in with the Nuggets. The good thing for him is that Denver does not have a superstar that he could feud with.

Lionel Hollins would be the best possible candidate for Denver. He would bring much needed defensive intensity along with a nice pedigree. If he does not leave Memphis, Brian Shaw should be the number one target. He would be a talented young coach, who would bring new blood to the organization. Shaw and Hollins are the only two coaches, I think, that could replace George Karl quickly.