New Orleans Pelicans: Top 3 remaining coach choices with Doc Rivers out

New Orleans Pelicans coaching search: Sam Cassell

Sam Cassell

This one is a personal choice more than based on any rumor, as I think Cassell is going to be a great coach for someone.

He has learned under some of the best coaches in the game, including the recently fired Doc Rivers, players love him and by all accounts, he has a keen mind for the game.

Like Lue, you have to wonder if Cassell is going to throw his hat into the ring for the Clippers’ job, but after Doc was unceremoniously fired, the Clippers might run from anyone on his staff.

Cassell will almost certainly be considered for the Houston Rockets’ job as well, so again, the Pelicans might end up being someone’s second choice.

Casell has been given a lot of credit for helping to develop John Wall while he was in Washington and may be the perfect guy to get the most out of Lonzo Ball.

He is also close with many of the players around the league and would almost certainly be able to recruit some veteran free agents to New Orleans, much like he did with Paul Pierce in Washington.

Cassell has not been a head coach, so this would be somewhat of a risky hire, but no riskier than Lue in my opinion, as he has no experience outside of coaching LeBron.

Cassell falls into the same category as Jerry Stackhouse, Chauncey Billups and other ex-players who have the coaching gene. They’d be a risk, but a more exciting choice than a retread like Mike D’Antoni.