Mike Fratello: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on Former Coach's Future
Current NBA analyst and former longtime coach Mike Fratello is reportedly drawing interest from around the league on a number of vacant front office positions.
Continue for updates.
Teams Looking to Bring Fratello Back to NBA
Monday, April 18
Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reported the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings have expressed interest.
Fratello, 69, has not held an official role within the NBA since being dismissed as Memphis Grizzlies head coach during the 2006-07 season. He has since spent nearly a decade as a color commentator for TNT, NBA TV and YES Network.
Known as the Czar of the Telestrator, Fratello brings an intricate knowledge of the game's X's and O's to every broadcast. His pairing with Ian Eagle is among the best local telecasts.
While he seemed relatively happy with his broadcasting gig, Fratello scratched an itch for coaching while serving as the Ukraine national coach from 2011 to 2014. He led the country to its first-ever FIBA World Cup in 2014.
In parts of 17 seasons as an NBA head coach, Fratello compiled a 667-548 record. He spent seven full seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and six with the Cleveland Cavaliers before three-plus campaigns in Memphis. His teams were regularly solid but not great. Fratello spearheaded 11 playoff teams, but eight of those teams lost in the first round, including the last seven. In his last six playoff appearances, Fratello-led teams had a combined 2-20 record.
It's unclear what Fratello would bring at this point beyond a consultancy role. He's stayed attached to the game via broadcasting, but it'd be curious for any team to bring him in after this long of an absence with any real personnel power. The Kings and Timberwolves are both looking for new head coaches, so it might be smart to bring him in as a consultant in those searches.
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