3 former players and current assistants OKC Thunder should consider for head coach

Sam Cassell – Rumored to be joining 76ers staff

Perhaps no assistant coach is more overdue for a step up to the main chair than LA Clippers’ assistant and former player Sam Cassell. The former point guard played for eight teams over his 15-year career. Cassell won three championships, the first two occurring in his rookie and sophomore seasons when the Houston Rockets won back-to-back titles. In his final season, now playing with Boston Celtics he bookended his career with a third title.

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As of this writing, Cassell is expected to join Doc Rivers in Philadelphia once again as an associate coach for the 76ers. That makes this suggestion somewhat tenuous as the 50-year may already have put pen to paper. That said, Rivers is known as one of the most supportive coaches in the association and would undoubtedly be thrilled if Cassell had an opportunity to take over a team as the head coach.

The Florida State alum took a year off following his retirement prior to transitioning into coaching. In May of 2009, his former coach Flip Saunders hired him as an assistant in Washington. Consequently, that summer (2009) the Wizards drafted John Wall. Cassell served as a mentor for the speedy point guard who credits him for helping him develop so quickly.

Speaking of point guards, part of the allure of Cassell is his familiarity with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The duo worked together in SGA’s rookie season in LA.

Cassell might not be at the top of the list for Sam Presti, however, his 11 years working with Flip and Doc helped hone his skills. The question isn’t whether he’s ready to become a head coach — it’s whether the Thunder would be the right situation for him.