A number of NBA coaches could be on the hot seat this season. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale, Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel and Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks are among the names to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Kyler prefaced his article on Tuesday with it being highly unlikely any of the coaches he mentioned are fired, barring a midseason collapse. Still, with training camps around the corner, Kyler has big names on his list.
McHale wasn't able to put together a deep playoff run in his first year with James Harden and Dwight Howard together. While that's understandable, Kyler predicted McHale could find himself on the hot seat early if the team struggles in the beginning of the season.
"If the Rockets cannot get back to at least where they were a season ago McHale's future becomes cloudy at best," Kyler wrote Tuesday. "If the Rockets fall backwards or struggle early McHale could be the coach most likely to be fired mid-season. The problem with expectations is that when you don't meet them, someone pays the price."
Vogel is another big name on the list. His name was mentioned as a possible candidate last season because of the team's late-season collapse and Pacers president Larry Bird's purported disapproval of him, and things won't be any easier for him with the loss of star Paul George.
The last big name is Brooks.
"Two things have to be said at the top: Scott Brooks is an excellent coach whose team and players adore him. That said, the clock is ticking," Kyler wrote. "There is no question that the Thunder are on the clock, especially with star forward Kevin Durant inching closer to free agency in the summer of 2016.
"The Thunder have preached a message of continuity and instituted a strong development program, and that has paid dividends in OKC, but failing to reach the NBA Finals again before Durant's free agency could spell disaster for the Thunder as the outside voices creep into the discussion and try to lure Durant out of OKC."
Kyler's list also includes Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman, Orlando Magic coach Jacque Vaughn and New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams. Read Kyler's assessments of those coaches HERE.
