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Denver Nuggets Rumors: Top 5 Candidates to Replace Brian Shaw as Head Coach

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USA TODAY Sports - Kim Klement

Denver Nuggets Head Coaching Candidates

Brian Shaw Denver Nuggets
USA TODAY Sports - Kim Klement

In a move that was expected, the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Brian Shaw on Tuesday morning. The Nuggets have been struggling mightily of late and it quickly became clear that Shaw wasn't getting through to his players.

Let's take a look at the top five candidates to replace Shaw as the Denver Nuggets head coach.

5. Mike Malone

Mike Malone
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Malone

Mike Malone
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

No coaching move this season was more shocking than when the Sacramento Kings fired Malone. He’s well respected in NBA circles and was known as one of the best game planners in the league while he was an assistant. Malone should be a prime candidate for all head coach openings until he takes a job.

4. Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Jackson was fired as the Golden State Warriors‘ head coach this past offseason after three successful years at the helm. Jackson’s Warriors knocked the Nuggets out of the playoffs in 2013, so Denver saw firsthand what Jackson can do. Despite being the franchise’s most successful coach in a couple of decades, Warriors management parted ways with Jackson due to a souring relationship.

3. Melvin Hunt

Denver Nuggets Melvin Hunt
Getty Images

3. Melvin Hunt

Denver Nuggets Melvin Hunt
Getty Images

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Hunt is the frontrunner to become Denver’s interim head coach. He has the first crack at the job and if the team significantly picks up their play for the rest of the season, you have to figure Hunt could have the interim tag removed.

2. Scott Skiles

Milwaukee Bucks Scott Skiles
Getty Images

2. Scott Skiles

Milwaukee Bucks Scott Skiles
Getty Images

Skiles is a 13-year coaching veteran who played five seasons with the Orlando Magic in the early 1990s. He most recently coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2009-2013, a job he resigned from after 32 games during the 2012-13 season. Although he’s compiled a winning record of 443-433 over his coaching career with the Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, Skiles’ teams have managed to win just one playoff series during his 13 years as a coach.

1. Fred Hoiberg

Fred Hoiberg
Getty Images

1. Fred Hoiberg

Fred Hoiberg
Getty Images

When any NBA head coaching job has opened up over the last several years, Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg is one of the first names mentioned. The former NBA sharpshooter has repeatedly stated his commitment to staying at Iowa State, and signed a 10-year, $20 million contract in 2013, but has a $500,000 buyout if he leaves to coach in the NBA.

Seth Lassen is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.
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