<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Bobcats to change coaches Jordan wants Bickerstaff to stay in a front-office role</div> CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Michael Jordan now gets a chance to hire a coach for his basketball team. Jordan, part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, said Tuesday that Bernie Bickerstaff will not return as coach next season, although he will complete this one. He will be invited to stay with the team and remains an "integral part" of the franchise. The third-year expansion team is 23-41 and last in the Southeast Division. Bickerstaff, also the general manager, has been credited with assembling a core of skilled players. "I want him involved," Jordan said. "We just haven't decided if that's as general manager or president of basketball operations. I see him staying with the organization</div> link Jordan will be making the decision on the hiring but Bickerstaff had touted Sam Mitchell as a potential replacement and I think Mitchell was originally hired as the Bobcats lead assistant after two years in Milwaukee. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Bucks fire coach Stotts after short run</div> MILWAUKEE -- Terry Stotts was fired Wednesday as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are struggling this season after injuries to key players. An interim coach was not announced for Thursday night's game against San Antonio, general manager Larry Harris said. "Terry has done the best he could in a difficult situation, especially with all of our injuries," Harris said of his coach for less than two seasons. "I felt it was in the best interest of our organization to make the decision now and move forward, rather than wait until the end of the regular season."</div> Mitchell had some success in Milwaukee as an assistant to Terry Porter. Obviously this might be good news to some people. As for me I think that Raptors should lock up Sam Mitchell right now. The last thing the Raptor's need is for Sam Mitchell's contract or lack thereof to become an issue for this playoff bound team. Mitchell has done an admirable job keeping it a non-issue but as the season draws to a close I could see the media making a deal about especially Big US media SI or ESPN to make it issue. I can envision the headlines right now: Potential Coach of the Year Candidate Does not Have a Contract for Next Year. I have been a staunch supporter of Mitchell and do not want to risk losing him. If I'm Colangelo I lock him to an extension 3 years seems reasonable. If the team fails to improve than they can always can him. Quite frankly, I'd be very disappointed to see the Raptor's lose him after this season.
I hope not, I like what Mitchell is doing for us here in Toronto. I don't think Colangelo will let him go.
I don't care really. He's done a good enough job to keep his job for one more season, but if the Raptors don't improve next year, then he's done.
I'm not sure that the market will be as demanding as you say. Milwaukee seems to have promoted their assistant to head coach and he has a very good relationship with their owner. Larry Brown's been linked with Charlotte for a while and, the way Michael Jordan's been speaking, they're going to be looking for a big name to show their fanbase that they're serious about winning. Other possibilities like Philly and Orlando have already committed to another year with their coaches. I'm not a very big fan of Mitchell. Honestly, I just don't understand the Coach of the Year discussions. What has he done that the majority of the coaches in the league wouldn't be able to do with this roster? I think our success is really more of an argument for Colangelo to win Executive of the Year. I'll acknowledge that he's built good chemistry (excluding Morris Peterson), but other than that I think he's a very mediocre coach. I gave him credit for his rotations earlier in the season, but he's still making mistakes with it (eg: the Seattle game). And his inability to make adjustments and strategical shortcomings are as noticeable as ever (eg: Anthony Parker's injury). I'm completely comfortable going into the playoffs without solving his contract issue. I've said it all year, but the playoffs will be very revealing. At most, I'd sign him for a couple years, just because he's built a good relationship with these players. However, I would much rather prefer to hire Marc Iavoroni and bring in David Blatt from Italy as an assistant.
