The Next Step: What Is Jerry Sloan's Future After Leaving The Utah Jazz
After 23 seasons coaching the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan resigned as the head coach. Sloan was the longest tenured coach of the four major sports, and resigned only two weeks after Jeff Fisher, the second-longest tenured professional head coach, was separated from the Tennessee Titans.
Every member of the basketball world felt the same shock when they heard Sloan was resigning. LeBron James tweeted, "Man it's gonna be crazy and weird seeing anyone besides Jerry Sloan walking the sidelines for the Utah Jazz!"
The Hall of Fame coach has 1,127 wins, but no rings with the Jazz. Will Sloan continue his search for the ring or will he head home and watch the NBA from his couch?
There are a few teams that could use the veteran coaching ability of Sloan, but his future remains in question. Here are a few interesting places that may or may not want to show interest in Sloan.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Let's face it, there is no way Jerry Sloan is going to replace Phil Jackson as the Lakers head coach, and he shouldn't. However, if Jackson decides to retire at the end of the season, there will be an open position in LA.
The Lakers have a solid roster and are currently trying to get back to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season. To make the situation even better, Kobe Bryant's there.
It might be a stretch, but if the "Zen Master" decides to retire at the end of the season, and Sloan is not coaching another team, don't be surprised if the Lakers pursue Sloan's veteran ability.
Notable Players: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher
Toronto Raptors
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Jay Triano was named the interim head coach of the Toronto Raptors during the 2009-10 season. The team finished the season with a 40-42 record, just missing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors did deal with some injuries after the All-Star break last season, but there was some speculation that some of their players weren't giving out the effort. Let's not forget, Chris Bosh did not see enough out of the team to convince him to stay.
This season has not been as successful for Triano. Toronto is already three losses away from tying their loss total from last season, and they only have 14 wins. Toronto is currently last in the Atlantic division.
Toronto might be interested in Sloan's hard-nosed, veteran coaching to help guide their young talent.
Notable Players: Andrea Bargnani, Leandro Barbosa, Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan
Charlotte Bobcats
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Some will argue that Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were a huge reason why Jerry Sloan never won a ring. Sloan ran into the Bulls in 1997 and 1998. Karl Malone and John Stockton were not enough to stop the Bulls, who were en route to a second three-peat.
On December 22, 2010, Bobcats' Chairman and CEO, Michael Jordan, announced that Paul Silas would take over as interim head coach after Larry Brown stepped down. Charlotte is currently the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, one game out of eighth.
The Bobcats have some talented players and were a playoff team last year. With the Bobcats still in playoff contention, do they necessarily need a new coach? With a 22-30 record, they still are not a winning team. Not yet.
The Bobcats have a few players that Sloan might be interested in coaching, and they have the personnel to play tough on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, led by swingman Gerald Wallace.
Notable Players: Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, D.J. Augustin, Boris Diaw
Indiana Pacers
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The Indiana Pacers are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, with a one-game lead over the Charlotte Bobcats. On January 30, 2011, the Pacers relieved Jim O'Brien of his head coaching duties and named Frank Vogel the interim head coach.
Vogel was an assistant coach under O'Brien, and now has a chance to show if he has the ability to lead the Pacers to their first playoff berth since the 2006 playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets.
The Pacers have a talented roster with the potential to be in the playoffs. However, being in the playoffs and being a contender are very different. The Pacers showed they can play against some of the better teams and be successful, but does Vogel have the leadership and experience to lead them to success in the playoffs?
Notable Players: Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Mike Dunleavy, Roy Hibbert
Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have the third-worst record in the NBA. Kurt Rambis was named the head coach in the summer of 2009 and has helped mold Kevin Love into one of the best big men in the league, receiving his first All-Star selection this season.
Rambis has also helped Michael Beasley, who many people thought would turn into a bust after his time with the Miami Heat, where he was very inconsistent. Beasley is averaging 19.9 ppg and 5.6 rpg this season.
Rambis learned from one of the best (he was an assistant coach under Phil Jackson), but so far he has not shown that he can form the Timberwolves into a contender. Minnesota is not the most talented in the league, so Rambis has not failed in his head coaching duty. Not yet, at least.
The Timberwolves have some young talent that Sloan might be interested in. If this young talent could commit to play hard, especially on defense, they could be a dangerous team. And if Sloan were to coach for Minnesota, he would be in the same division as Utah.
Unfortunately for Minnesota, they play in the Western Conference. No matter the coach, it will be tough for the T-Wolves to make the playoffs without acquiring some better talent.
Notable Player: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Corey Brewer, Wesley Johnson
Sacramento Kings
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First, there was John Stockton. Next up, we have Deron Williams. Then, Tyreke Evans?
Evans has proven he is a player to watch in the NBA, but could you imagine how good he could be with the guidance of Jerry Sloan?
The Sacrament Kings currently have the second-worst record in the Western Conference at 12-37, a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This season is Paul Westphal's second season coaching the Kings. He has a talented roster with young players. I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks the Kings should have a better record at this point in the season.
Westphal has not been able to find out what's working for the Kings. Thankfully for him, and the organization, they have some promising young players in Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi and DeMarcus Cousins.
If the Kings could commit to playing tough every night, they have the talent to give teams some problems. Talent alone does not win championships, but this roster seems to be one that could play very good defense, and everyone knows the old saying, "defense wins championships."
Notable Players: Tyreke Evans, Carl Landry, DeMarcus Cousins, Samuel Dalembert
Retirement, Management, Consultant
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There are options other than coaching another team. Jerry Sloan has had a long, successful career. The option to retire completely is always there.
Even if Sloan retires and decides he wants to coach again, it wouldn't be the first time we've seen anyone come out of retirement. With Sloan's resume, even after taking a year or two off, I'm sure a team will be more than happy to have him step in as their head coach.
Sloan could still have an impact on a team other than coaching. Sloan may want to take a position consulting coaches or players.
LeBron James was right, it will be weird to not see Jerry Sloan on the Utah Jazz bench, but it will be even weirder not seeing him coaching.
