The LA Clippers interviewed Sam Cassell for their head coaching position on Tuesday, per a report.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 In the wake of Doc Rivers' departure from the other Clippers, several candidates have emerged to replace the former head coach's position on the team.
00:07 Among them are Tyronn Blue, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Brown, Wes Unsell Jr., and Darvin Ham, most of whom we've welcomed into the organization.
00:14 Surprisingly, though, there's been one name that hasn't really been circulated regarding the job, and that's Clippers assistant Sam Cassell.
00:20 A three-time NBA champion as a player, Cassell has been coaching since 2009 and had been an assistant on Rivers' staff in Los Angeles since 2014.
00:29 He's been linked to other vacancies around the league, most notably Houston Rockets, where he got his start as a player back in the mid-90s.
00:35 But there's been no words to other Clippers who will consider him for the job.
00:39 Perhaps that's a good thing. The Clippers tend to be a more tight-lipped organization.
00:43 And as far as we know, Cassell could have already been a different position.
00:46 There's really no way of knowing whether that's happened or not unless it's been reported by someone official.
00:50 But if he isn't a candidate to become LA's next head coach, one would have to wonder why.
00:55 We already touched on Cassell's coaching experience, but his expertise goes well beyond that.
01:00 In 2014, when he was with the Wizards, five-time All-Star John Wall credited Cassell for his development in the early years of his career.
01:07 He helped bring Paul Pierce to the Washington Wizards early that season as well, helped the franchise with its first playoff series in nearly a decade.
01:14 Cassell's also been lauded for his high basketball IQ by Rivers, among many others, who said that he should be a head coach before the season came to an end.
01:22 It's hard to say how much stock LA would put into an endorsement from Rivers, but Cassell fits the mold for the organization's ideal head coach.
01:29 According to Athletics' Yovan Buha, the Clippers want their next coach to be a "high-level game strategist who values progress and innovation"
01:36 and upholds the "underdog attitude that LA established during the 2018-2019 NBA season."
01:42 Player development is also on the list for LA, as well as a desire to get back to playing "fun and competitive basketball."
01:49 Cassell fits that profile to a T.
01:52 If Lou doesn't end up getting the job, there's an argument being made that Cassell would be the best available candidate.
01:57 He's already familiar with the organization, is respected by the team, is full of energy,
02:01 and most of all has the potential to bring this team to the NBA Finals for a chance to win its first ever NBA title next season.
02:09 (clicking)