The Great Raymond Felton Debate

[teej]

teej...I'm really not sold that Hanners will be our Head Coach if LB leaves...and if he were that "great" why wouldn't LB want Hanners as his Head Coach if he does take a FO position calling the shots?

I can think of other guys I'd rather have than Hanners...I'm really tired of not developing young players...if LB leaves I'd rather bring in a guy more willing to play them...but that's just me...

Did Hanners not play the young guys/bench the two times he was in charge?

And there are a lot of people in the organization who really like Hanners as a coach. I don't think LB would take him though, because he'd be risking his rep on an untested coach. In my mind, though, none of the truly tested coaches are quality candidates, especially since JVG and MJ aren't the best of buds.

I'd like people more than Hanners, sure, but if we named him coach tomorrow I'd be very happy. He's smart, witty, and he's studied under LB and Dean. What's not to like?

[Fred Williamson]

I can think of other guys I'd rather have than Hanners...I'm really tired of not developing young players...if LB leaves I'd rather bring in a guy more willing to play them...but that's just me...

agreed. I'm sick and tired of Crash and Jax playing 47 minutes per game and washed up veterans.

Just get a coach who can teach some offense and is willing to let the young guys play

[ND22]

I'm on the fence, Ray has definitely improved this year but he was almost a non-factor in the playoffs. At the same time, he has a true love and passion for this team and organization, and on top of that, I don't think we could find a real upgrade to him in free agency this year.

I say we re-sign him.

[BRNC]

teej...Ziggy has the first of my three part series on coaches...think he's posting the first tomorrow...my top choice (if LB leaves) is in the third...I'm not "ruining" my three-piece work just to appease you...

It is not that I'm dead-set against Dave or even Phil Ford for that matter...problem is...a rookie Head Coach (with vets on the team) is a heck of a lot more concerned with their jobs...a vet coach with a proven record has more lee-way with the FO and works that out ahead of the season...the other problem is ...

Promoting an assistant to top dog is a real 50-50...Alvin Gentry is the good...michael Curry the not so good...

[teej]

teej...Ziggy has the first of my three part series on coaches...think he's posting the first tomorrow...my top choice (if LB leaves) is in the third...I'm not "ruining" my three-piece work just to appease you...

It is not that I'm dead-set against Dave or even Phil Ford for that matter...problem is...a rookie Head Coach (with vets on the team) is a heck of a lot more concerned with their jobs...a vet coach with a proven record has more lee-way with the FO and works that out ahead of the season...the other problem is ...

Promoting an assistant to top dog is a real 50-50...Alvin Gentry is the good...michael Curry the not so good...

First, I jumped to read something quickly, came back, and without reloading the page quoted your post. Thing is, it tripled while I was reading. Edit Master FTW.

OK, now for the important stuff: If I had to wager money on one of the two to be successful, I'd pick Dave over Phil. Dave is very personable (think Flip Saunders nice) yet demanding (like Pop). He's got enough personality for the players to accept him, but also enough smarts to know when he needs to coach. He's probably the only coach in the NBA with a Masters in English Education.

And to your point about LB's assistants, just take a look at his coaching tree. Pop and RC Buford, Mike Woodson, Gentry, Doc Rivers, Byron Scott, John Kuester, Curry, and Paul Silas. Except for Curry/Kuester, who've inherited a horrible situation in Detroit, all have made the playoffs multiple times and there are a lot of rings going around. I'd be willing to bet Curry would be decent somewhere else...

EDIT: Totally forgot about Bill Self and John Calipari. Not too shabby for Hanners, is it?

[BRNC]

teej...not going to argue about Curry...and I'll say this Dave and Phil "might" be successful Head Coaches...somewhere else...players do not accept (see Curry) promotions even when they ask for them (again see Curry)...and I know the pedigree of the guys that have worked with/for LB...not my point...

Unless Jax is traded it will be difficult for a "rookie" Head Coach to do this gig...that's my opinion...

[SWedd523]

agreed. I'm sick and tired of Crash and Jax playing 47 minutes per game and washed up veterans.

Just get a coach who can teach some offense and is willing to let the young guys play

Also agree. Young guys make mistakes but if you let them grow throughout the season they become productive players for you for a long time. I was thinking just this as I saw Taj Gibson get extended minutes tonight.


Growing pains are going to happen, but in the not-so-long run, they'll reward you. Let them play and give the old guys a rest.

[teej]

I think we have the bottom price floor, gents

123. Ray Felton
Made Jameer Nelson look good enough that I left the Magic series thinking, "Either Nelson has gone to another level and I need to reconfigure my 'Orlando can't make the finals without a real go-to guy' statement, or Ray Felton is a career backup and should not earn more than $2.35 million a year."

[spectre]

Bill Simmons eh?

http://www.miamiherald.com/qna/forum...hat/index.html

Q: Do you think it would be feasible to trade Beasley and this year's 1st rd pick to the Nets for the #1 pick so we can draft John Wall? What mid-level FA's do you think we could pick up once we sign one of the top FA's?

Answered 04/29/10 14:07:42 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: I don't think the Nets would even come close to touching that trade. I think Carlos Boozer would be an option, with a Bosh/Boozer combination. I think John Salmons would be a fit if he decides to opt out. I think Raymond Felton and Rudy Gay are also potential targets. It just depends which main guy the Heat grabs first after re-signing Dwyane Wade.

Also:

Q: Ok Mike, let's get real here. Lebron's ego is way too big for "Wade" County. He would never agree to it. There is a very good chance that Bosh ends up with a team like LA that can offer a better sign and trade scenario than Miami. Amare may resign with the Suns or somewhere else, and Boozer is not worth a max contract and probably good enough for another 1st or 2nd round playoff exit. If the goal is a dynasty then what do we do when Plans A,B,C, and D all fail, which is not as unrealistic as it probably sounds? Would there be any way we could form a championship caliber team?

Answered 04/29/10 13:40:07 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Sure. And I totally agree with you on the "what if all else fails" predicament. As a matter of fact, the Heat might be better off getting three or four B-level players with its cap space than throwing all of its money at 1 A-level player aside from Wade. When it comes to competing for a title, it's often your third and fourth best players who are the deciding factors. So in that case, grab a Carlos Boozer for less than max money, bring in a John Salmons type as your swingman and try to pry a Raymond Felton or Ramon Sessions away as your point guard. How would Felton/Sessions, Wade, Salmons/Gay, Boozer and defensive-minded center play in the East? Keep in mind, this team won 47 games with far less than that lineup this season.

[murphman]

Here is another idea. How about a sign and trade with Portland for Andre Miller. Miller is old but this past season showed that he can still score at will. Most importantly is his contract, next season is the 2nd of his three year deal but the third year is a team option meaning we can cut ties with him after only one season. And if need be, he might make very valuable trade bait with that contract. Portland would get another young core player to develop into their system.

Yes, it is a stop gap but looking at our roster (both cap hit and age of our players), a one year stop gap is exactly what we need.