David Blatt to Darussafaka: Latest Contract Details, Analysis and Reaction
After getting fired as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, David Blatt has reportedly landed on his feet in Turkey with Darussafaka.
Per Bleacher Report's David Pick, Blatt's deal with Darussafaka is for two years and does not include any NBA opt-out clauses.
When Blatt was fired by the Cavaliers, he had already built up an impressive resume in a short period of time.
The 57-year-old came to the NBA after coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel for four years, led Cleveland to the NBA Finals in his first season and had the best record in the Eastern Conference (30-11) at the time of his dismissal.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported in January that Blatt was "intent" on coaching in the NBA again. Pick expanded on that, adding he was hearing connections between Blatt and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves wound up hiring Tom Thibodeau for their head coaching vacancy in April. As the months began to tick away, it seemed evident that Blatt's best chance to get back on the bench would be overseas.
It's not a bad idea for Blatt to move into an area where he had great success. The international game was good to him before the Cavaliers surprised everyone by hiring him. He's walking into a good situation with Darussafaka, which reached the semifinals of the Turkish Basketball Super League playoffs last season.
Some of Blatt's NBA accolades need to be put in context, as the Cavaliers amassed a stellar roster of talent that includes LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love. It became difficult to judge how well he was doing because of Cleveland's depth.
Of course, it's also important to note that Blatt didn't necessarily expect to be working with a superteam right away when the Cavs hired him. Cleveland brought him on in June 2014; James didn't announce he was signing with Cleveland until July 11.
James' return changed the dynamic in Cleveland because there were legitimate expectations around the franchise for the first time since he left for the Miami Heat in 2010. Blatt wasn't going to shy away from that opportunity, but it left him nowhere to go if things turned sour.
Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported in January 2015, when the Cavaliers were struggling and had fallen one game under .500, that James and Blatt were at a "crossroads." It's a hard thing to make an impression in your first NBA head coaching job with the league's best player, so Blatt had to be perfect for that to work.
This new opportunity could be the right chance for Blatt to get his mojo back after an unceremonious exit from the NBA. He's going to a situation with much less pressure in which he will have an opportunity to build a team that can work in his system.
The NBA hasn't yet given Blatt the second chance that he is looking for, but credit the veteran coach for finding a situation that he knows, understands and will be able to succeed in right away.
