Why Brian Shaw Should Spurn Brooklyn Nets for LA Clippers

Brian Shaw has gained some serious traction as a potential NBA head coach, especially after helping to nearly steer the Indiana Pacers into the 2013 NBA Finals over the Miami Heat. He was already a hot name on the coaching carousel, but that series may have helped push him over the top. 

Now that the Pacers are no longer competing for the right to hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy, Shaw is being heavily targeted by both the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets. 

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne, Shaw is now considered the Clippers' top choice, and Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports the same for the Nets: 

From the sound of things, Shaw has two fantastic options. He can latch on with a playoff team in either conference and attempt to take the squad of his choosing to the next level. 

If he wants to find the most success, though, the Clippers are the only logical choice. 

Better Team

As simple as it may sound, the Clippers are just better than the Nets. That's an often understated reason for choosing one squad over another, but it's an important one nonetheless. 

Shaw doesn't like losing. You can't enjoy the feeling of defeat if you've made it to the professional level as either a player or a coach, and the future clipboard holder has done both. 

Sure, the Nets are a solid team, but they aren't as solid as the Clippers. Just look at the records from the 2012-13 season: The Nets went 49-32, while L.A. raced out to a 56-26 record in the much tougher Western Conference. 

That could all change if Chris Paul decides to do some spurning of his own and joins either the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets or some other team, but for now, let's assume that he stays in town. That gives the Clippers the best player between the two teams, and Blake Griffin isn't too far behind both Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. 

Add to that a bit more financial flexibility and a roster that isn't going to feel the effects of old age quite as quickly. Well, the starters at least. 

L.A. is in a better position to succeed during the 2013-14 campaign, and that won't change in the future. 

Player Development

Shaw has been linked with the famed triangle offense more than a few times, but the biggest asset he brings to the table is his ability to develop young players. The following quote comes via Shelbourne's report: 

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His youth, championship experience with the Los Angeles Lakers and player development skills, which have been showcased by his work with Indiana's Paul George and Lance Stephenson, have intrigued the Clippers management and players. He also received strong reviews from Clippers forward Lamar Odom, who played under Shaw with the Lakers.

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With the Pacers in particular, Shaw was able to help young players take massive strides forward.

Paul George blossomed from a promising player with loads of potential for development into a bona fide All-Star with MVP potential. Lance Stephenson seemed to put it all together in the Eastern Conference Finals. Going back a few years, Andrew Bynum also took major steps in the right direction when Shaw was sitting on the Los Angeles Lakers' sideline. 

The five-time champion (three as a player, two as a coach) thrives when he's working with young players and helping them realize their full potential, and the Clippers have a great deal more unrealized potential than the Nets. 

Let's ignore the veterans who have already established themselves as stars. It's hard to imagine Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Joe Johnson or Chris Paul improving too much more. This is all about the young big men. 

Brook Lopez made his first All-Star team during the 2012-13 season, but he's not going to get too much better either. The Stanford product averaged 19.4 points per game, and he improved noticeably as both a rebounder and defender. That's about maxing out his potential, though. 

The same can't be said about Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Anyone who has seen them jump can attest to that. 

Both athletic bigs saw their developments become rather stagnant under Vinny Del Negro. Jordan in particular, as Griffin has added more post moves to his arsenal and improved the range of his jumper. 

Their ceilings have not yet been reached, and the Clippers would become absolutely terrifying if that changed and Paul stayed. 

Shaw has always found success while playing alongside or coaching a dominant big man. He won titles next to Shaquille O'Neal, then coached Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Roy Hibbert. Lopez is the best big-man option at the moment, but that could change after just one season of having Blake under his tutelage. 

So while neither option is a particularly poor one, L.A. presents Shaw with a better foundation and a higher ceiling. In fact, Brooklyn's ceiling might be the Clippers' floor, again assuming that Paul doesn't put on new threads for the 2013-14 season. 

Sounds like a no-brainer, right?