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Who wants to coach in cold Milwaukee? That’s the question essentially posed after the city’s franchise split ways with interim coach Jim Boylan. Former Orlando Magic and Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy has emerged as the top candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks‘ head coaching vacancy according to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnaroski.
“As soon as I walk outside, no,” Van Gundy told the Orlando Sentinel prior to a Bucks-Magic game in December 2010. “I want to get back to Florida. When I’m inside, yeah. Look, I enjoyed my years here, and there’s a lot of good people here and everything else. . . . I laugh about it, but I don’t miss the weather. I don’t miss the weather at all.”
I hear Milwaukee’s actually pretty nice, and erstwhile Bucks Coach Scott Skiles spoke well of Wisconsin after he and the organization abruptly parted ways midseason in January. I’ll analyze the pros and cons of a union between Van Gundy and the Bucks organization.
Pros:
- The Bucks traded for J.J. Redick, one of Van Gundy’s favorite players while coaching the Magic
- Van Gundy boasts a 371-208 regular season record (64.1 percent) and 48-39 postseason mark (.552)
- Dwight Howard hasn’t done jack without him
- Strong defensive-minded coach that general manager John Hammond looks for
- Familiarity with the area: Used to coach the Wisconsin Badgers in the 1990s
Cons:
- Both of his stints, with Orlando and Miami, have ended with him being basically forced out in a high-profile fashion
- The Bucks roster looks destined for lottery limbo
- Milwaukee sounds really cold
Basically, the ball’s in Van Gundy’s court.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
