What's the most attractive NBA coaching job available right now?
With Wednesday's reports from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that neither Scott Brooks (Washington Wizards) nor Stan Van Gundy (New Orleans Pelicans) will return as his team's head coach, one-fifth of the league's teams are now searching for replacements on the sideline. That group includes three playoff teams: the Wizards, Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.
Because those teams are looking for different types of candidates, possible head coaches won't always -- or ever -- have their choice of jobs. Still, let's rank each opening based on potential of the current roster, front-office stability and path forward, with a particular emphasis on the new ones that were created today in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.
6. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are replacing Terry Stotts, one of the longest tenured and most successful coaches in team history. (Only the legendary Dr. Jack Ramsay won more games as a head coach in Portland.) President of basketball operations Neil Olshey said recently that the Blazers' first-round loss, their fourth in the past five seasons, was "not a product of the roster." And, unless you happen to be Chauncey Billups, star Damian Lillard is on record as wanting someone else as coach. (Lillard endorsed Billups and Jason Kidd before the latter withdrew his name from the coaching search.)
