NBA Coaches: Ranking head coaches likely to be available this summer

2. Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau will almost certainly be the most controversial available coach this summer. Just recently on First Take, he confirmed that he would be open to getting back to coaching and said that his resume speaks for itself.

Truthfully, it does. Thibodeau has posted a lifetime record of 352-246 (.589) and missed the playoffs just once in the seven full seasons he’s coached.

Beyond the wins and losses, Thibodeau has managed a testy Jimmy Butler and operated as a team President for the Timberwolves simultaneously with his coaching gig.

Thibodeau has gained a reputation for having red-lined some of the key players on his rosters, and his vision for running the team may simply not line-up with that of an NBA that is focused on strategic rest for star players.

He’s a proven winner, though, and gets good stuff out of the players he’s coached. It might take a really good match with system and coach for him to find the perfect gig, and Thibodeau may need to give up some of what he values to make the relationship work, but he would be a good get for a number of vacancies out there.

1. Mike D’Antoni

Mike D’Antoni very well could end up back with the Houston Rockets next year, where he currently is employed, but the reality is that he will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Contract negotiations with the Rockets stalled before this season. While it doesn’t necessarily mean the two sides won’t come to a deal, it does appear as if the Rockets are exploring other options, given their rumored interest in Jeff Van Gundy.

D’Antoni has been a good fit for the Rockets and has slid in a systematic way.

With over 15 years of coaching experience on four different teams, he has a 668-523 record (.561) over the course of his career, taking the Phoenix Suns as deep as the Western Conference in 2006.

With experience leading big market teams with extreme pressure, star-studded rosters, and high expectations, D’Antoni has not always seen success, but most of that can be attributed to shaky roster makeup. The Steve Nash/Dwight Howard era in Los Angeles had a high ceiling but just didn’t fit as expected.

D’Antoni has also been one of the leading voices pushing space and pace in the NBA. With most teams trending that way, his experience leading successful teams under that general systematic framework bodes well for how he could lead a winner in the modern NBA.