Wasn't Demopulous the mastermind behind our defense? Were he and Casey buddies or something? Latest I've heard on Nate, from today's PI: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">According to NBA and club sources, the Sonics have offered McMillan, fourth in the NBA in tenure with the same team, a deal in excess of the extension signed last week by Scott Skiles with the Chicago Bulls. Including a current $2.75 million for 2005-06, the $13.25 million extension gave Skiles a $16 million value over four years. If McMillan agrees to the Sonics' superior four-year offer, that would vault him easily into the top 10 among NBA coaching salaries, following Jackson, Brown, Rick Adelman of Sacramento, Gregg Popovich of San Antonio, Jerry Sloan of Utah, Jeff Van Gundy of Houston and Doc Rivers of Boston.</div>
That's very fair IMO. Those other nine coaches mentioned have been career winning coaches, while Nate has only made the playoffs twice. Obviously he did super well with the current roster and that has to be rewarded, but to be put in that sort of company is more than fair.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Coach Nate McMillan and Sonics president Wally Walker, negotiating a deal to keep McMillan with the Sonics, took time yesterday to reflect on their 11-year relationship with associate head coach Dwane Casey, who is expected to be named the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. "I'm happy for him," McMillan said. "We'll be able to go against each other, and that's fine. The opportunity has been there a number of times, and I thought he'd probably be gone before now. "It was getting to a point where people were starting to wonder why he hadn't gotten a job after all the interviews he had gone for. Why? People were starting to speculate and come up with different reasons. I think people were afraid to take a chance on someone who didn't play in the league and was going to be a first-time head coach." Kevin McHale, Minnesota vice president of basketball operations, denied yesterday that the team has offered the job to anyone, but multiple NBA sources said a four-year deal should be finished with Casey as early as today. "If it happens, we're all thrilled for Dwane," said Walker. "He's a great guy who's done a great deal for us, and he's ready to be a head coach." Casey will inherit a Minnesota team that's a season removed from advancing to the Western Conference finals and is led by 2003-04 MVP Kevin Garnett and one-time All-Star Wally Szczerbiak</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times</font> Well from the sounds of things it's all but official, Portland have supposedly decided on Iavaroni to fill their head coaching role, and it pretty much seems like management at the Supes is preparing for life without Dwane Casey.
Dean was brought in from the college ranks to shore up the Sonics zone defense back when they eliminated the illegal defense rules and allowed zone. I imagine his role expanded over time. I don't know that he was THE defensive mastermind, but he clearly contributed. They have had a few years of zone now, though, and he may be replaced more easily than Casey who we all know did a LOT for this team's coaching staff.
Yeah I just read that Demopulous wants to be a head coach eventually, so I guess the move to first assistant is a step towards that. Also, this Casey stuff has me thinking....is he a better coach than Nate? Preparation, game adjustments, X's and O's, and so forth...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah I just read that Demopulous wants to be a head coach eventually, so I guess the move to first assistant is a step towards that. Also, this Casey stuff has me thinking....is he a better coach than Nate? Preparation, game adjustments, X's and O's, and so forth...</div> I suppose we get to learn the current state of that answer next season with the two of them competing in the same division.
Well it's official, with a press conference being held to announce Dwane's hiring. http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/casey050617.html ^ Great piece there too about Dwane from Supersonic.com's Kevin Pelton.
