Pelicans Coaching Candidates: 2 Best Assistants Left in the Bubble

New Orleans Pelicans coaching candidates: Dan Craig

Dan Craig- Miami Heat

Craig is a guy who has been one of my favorites from the beginning, as I think the Pelicans need to look outside the traditional boxes.

The best coaches currently in the NBA are not ex-players, but guys who worked their way up from video interns to player development to assistant coaches for successful teams.

Guys like Nick Nurse and Erik Spoelstra have shown that you do not have to be a Hall of Fame player to understand the game.

Dan Craig could be the next in line.

Like Spoelstra, Craig was groomed early on as a video intern and eventually worked his way through the Heat organization.

Both Spoelstra and Pat Riley have sung his praises and his basketball mind, and considering how successful they’ve been, those are recommendations worth listening to.

Even though I do think the word “culture” gets thrown around too much, the Heat definitely have it, as they always seem to be winners even though they never pick near the top of the draft.

Craig has worked in player development for the Heat, who just keep cranking out great young players who mostly did not come out of the lottery.

Craig also coached the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G-League affiliate, to the best G-League record in the history of the league, winning Coach of the Year honors in the process.

If the Pelicans truly want to start their own culture of winning, it starts with a coach as the foundation. They need someone who can grow with the players, who knows how to win and has learned from the best in the business.

Dan Craig might be the guy the Pelicans are waiting for.