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NBA Coaches Hot Seat Watch: 5 coaches at risk of being fired

By Josh Cornelissen

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NBA Coaches
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons yells out to referees against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on November 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan, NBA Coaches. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /

NBA Coaches Seat Index: Dwane Casey, Detroit Pistons

2021-22 Record: 4-18

Record with franchise: 85-157 (35.1 percent) over four seasons

Dwane Casey took the Toronto Raptors from irrelevant to Conference Finalists, winning 57.3 percent of his games across seven seasons north of the border. In his final season, he won 59 games, but it wasn’t enough to save his job. He immediately caught on with the Detroit Pistons, seen as a steady veteran hand to keep the team relevant.

He failed in that, but it’s hardly his fault. Blake Griffin’s body fell apart and this team’s draft picks largely fell flat for a few years. After a 41-41 season that saw them make the playoffs, the Pistons have won just 44 games in 2+ seasons with Casey.

The organization has embraced the rebuild, flipping veterans for draft picks and stocking a cupboard that was bare with intriguing players such as Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, not to mention the 2021 No 1. overall pick Cade Cunningham. Casey’s oversight of the young players’ development seems like a point in his favor.

Yet the reality is he can’t seem to win games, and the Pistons are currently last in the conference again. Is this losing something the front office (and more importantly, ownership) has the patience to see out?

It seemed like prior to the season Detroit would try to win some games this season, adding Kelly Olynyk and bringing back Cory Joseph. Instead, they have been a mess, with or without Cunningham on the court.

The other factor here is Casey’s patience overseeing a long-term rebuild. Would he rather leave, spend a year or two as the top assistant for a winning team, and then try his luck at another head-coaching job down the road?

Frank Vogel survived a stint with a bad team, as did Monty Williams. Both have been to the NBA Finals the last two seasons. Could Casey try to go that route and make it out of this Detroit malaise? Maybe, unless they fire him first.

Seat Index: 5.5 (someone flushed a toilet while you’re in the shower)