Consider this: Over the past three years, the coaches with the best regular-season records were – in order – Avery Johnson of the Dallas Mavericks with 178, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs with 177 and Flip Saunders of the Detroit Pistons with 176.
Two of those three are now out of a job. Johnson was cashiered by Dallas after the Mavericks were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
Saunders got the axe despite guiding Detroit to three straight conference finals.
Only Popovich retains his job, recently getting a contract extension. The difference
with Pop, of course, is that he's won four NBA titles with the Spurs.
It's not as if Saunders or Johnson will be lining up at their local unemployment office.
Detroit still owes Saunders an estimated $5 million for the remaining year on his contract. Johnson remains under contract with Dallas for the next three years and is owed $12 million.
The odds are that neither of those to competent coaches will be working this season. Two jobs remain open: in Phoenix and Chicago. But there are clear front-runners for both – Detroit assistant Terry Porter in Phoenix and Doug Collins in Chicago.
Another potential opening could be available in Atlanta, which could fire Mike Woodson although the Hawks ended a 10-year playoff drought this season. Go figure.
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