OKC Thunder: 10 NBA assistants to consider for head coach

As the OKC Thunder continues their hunt for a new head coach 10 assistants offer up potential to consider.

In the NBA, a small market has unique challenges that impact both roster and executive management compilation. As such who Sam Presti taps to fill the OKC Thunder head coach vacancy will take those factors into consideration.

Over the course of the dozen years of the franchise, three men held the head coach position. P.J. Carlesimo began the inaugural season but 13 games into the season he was replaced. Scott Brooks took over for the remainder of the 2008-09 season as well as the next six seasons. The five-year term of Billy Donovan ended this year with both sides mutually agreeing to part ways.

Diving into the assistant coaching pool for an OKC Thunder head man:

With the horde of draft picks in hand, most assume the Thunder are entering a rebuilding phase. The trick will be to limit how long the franchise is a lottery team with the intent of making it a short window.  Likewise, Presti’s goal will be to hire a head coach who can navigate the rebuild but also be capable of leading the squad back into contention.

With that goal in mind Thunderous Intentions served up some potential head coaching candidates:

• Three potential candidates with G-League head coaching experience (click here)
• Mr. Big Shot – Chauncey Billups (click here)
• Three former players with strong coaching backgrounds (click here)
• Becky Hammon – breaking the glass ceiling (click here)
• A trio of candidates from the Popovich coaching tree (click here)

Moving forward, this next group of candidates is comprised of assistant coaches who Sam Presti should consider.