1. Gregg Popovich
If any other team were truly able to lure Gregg Popovich away from the San Antonio Spurs, it would be a feat of epic proportions. The Spurs legendary head coach has won five NBA Championships during his run in San Antonio. He’s one of the absolute best head coaches in the league’s history, and maybe the best active one.
The 71-year-old Indiana native Popovich began his head coaching career in the NBA way back during the 1996-97 season. When he started his head coaching career with the Spurs, Phil Jackson was still the Bulls head coach. He has a sparkling career coaching record of 1,277-614 in his tenure with the Spurs.
This coaching run of Popovich with the Spurs has also landed him three NBA Coach of the Year awards, and more Coach of the Month awards than you can count on two hands.
According to a report from Dan Wolken of the LA Times, the Nets are “serious” about pursuing Popovich to be their next head coach. Similar to how the Bulls would not realistically have D’Antoni on their shortlist unless something drastic happened this offseason, Popovich shouldn’t be considered too realistic of a candidate either.
But if there is a world where the Nets could actually come close to luring Popovich away from the Spurs, then the Bulls should at least give it a shot to get him to the Windy City too. Since there was once even a consideration that Popvich would retire after this season, the fact that he is reportedly still considering coming back is an encouraging sign that he’s still at least be around in the NBA.
On an eventful last night in the NBA Bubble for five teams, Gregg Popovich greeted the end of the Spurs' epic playoff streak with a surprise imitation of President Trump ... and a strong suggestion he will back on the bench next season. @NYTSports column: https://t.co/k4jprLUPUg
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 14, 2020
Maybe he’ll give it another shot with a bigger market team than the Spurs. Still a long shot in almost any regard.