The New Orleans Pelicans are scouring the market for their next head coach following the dismissal of Monty Williams following the team's 2015 NBA Playoffs exit. Here's our list of 5 Candidates To Replace Monty Williams As New Pelicans Head Coach.
Tom Thibodeau, former Chicago Bulls head coach
Thibodeau is obviously the dream choice for the Pelicans, but reports indicated that Thibs may be reticient to hitch his wagon to a team in a murderous division inside of a stacked conference. The 2011 NBA Coach of the Year pushed the Bulls to the brink of being a championship-level club, but he does have the reputation of being a hard-line coach who doesn't play well with upper management.
Jeff Van Gundy, ESPN analyst/former New York Knicks head coach
Van Gundy led the Knicks to the playoffs six times, including a trip to the 1999 NBA Finals despite finishing the strike-shortened campaign with a 27-23 record and finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division. He's missed the playoffs just one in nine NBA seasons and, while he's not afraid to speak his mind whenever and wherever, he's an underrated motivator who's been due for other opportunity for quite some time.
Vinny Del Negro, former Los Angeles Clippers head coach
Del Negro led the Clippers to their first 50-win season in franchise history back in 2012-13, and he has four playoff berths to his credit in five NBA coaching seasons. While there's doubts about his in-game managing abilities, his reputation as a player's coach could help him build a fruitful relationship with Anthony Davis right off the bat.
Alvin Gentry, Golden State Warriors assistant coach
Gentry's 2009-10 Phoenix Suns averaged a league-best 110.2 points per game, going 54-28 and making it to the Western Conference Finals in the process. He is currently the lead assistant for the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors, who have reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years. Gentry has already interviewed twice for the job, so keep an eye on him as a favorite if Tom Thibodeau indeed doesn't pan out.
Scott Brooks, former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach
Brooks was fired by the Thunder after they failed to make the postseason, but his resume is nearly unparalleled. He made the playoffs in five of his seven seasons in OKC, and won Coach of the Year in 2010. New Orleans is intrigued by his success and postseason experience, but his questionable offensive play calling drop him to the bottom of the list for the Pelicans.
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