NBA Interested in our beloved John Beilein:

Submitted by myblueheaven on
It's good to know the NBA recognizes what a great coach Beilein has been for Michigan since his arrival! I remember when people thought that his system was not good enough for the B1G, and now it may be coveted on the highest level. Let's hope the big time recruits(ie Josh Jackson) began to see the light as well...Go Blue!!! Here is a link to the article... http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/05/13/nba-rumors-john-beilein-would-…

Space Coyote

May 15th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^

And then both be out of a job half way through the season, despite not having the skill on their teams to lead the division, or the time to actually turn around a franchise, etc. Because that's just the way the NBA works.

Why you'd ever want to coach for a non-power in that league is beyond me. You simply have no chance.

Ali G Bomaye

May 15th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^

The shortest NBA coach contracts are for 3 years, and the average coach salary is $3.4 million.  Brad Stevens was the latest hot coach to go from the college ranks to the NBA, and he got a 6-year, $22 million contract from the Celtics.  And all of that money is guaranteed.

Beilein is one of the ten highest-paid coaches in college basketball, at $2.45 million per year.  But if he jumped to the NBA, he'd be getting a 50% raise, minimum, and would get more years guaranteed.

LSAClassOf2000

May 15th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^

It has been brought up several times before, but Beilein has said in repeated interviews that Ann Arbor is his final destination and that he intends to eventually retire from Michigan, so I would think we have nothing to worry about here. Even better, he's often expressed his love of coaching at this level and how the environment in Ann Arbor is a good place for someone like that. 

 

Prince Lover

May 15th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^

JB has said this is his last stop. And after he took this job, he had commented how his family talked about if they even wanted to do another rebuilding project that was UM. Then they decided this was to be the last one. Glad they did. So as others have said, nothing to see here....I hope.

stephenrjking

May 15th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^

Rantsports may not be much, but this discussion entered the MGoTwitSphere a couple of days ago based on this:

 

So there is at least some legitimacy here.

I've had a hard time following the ups and downs of teams with strong perimeter talent, like Golden State and OKC, and not thinking that Beilein would be able to work wonders with those squads. Of course, there's more to NBA coaching than being a great offensive mind. But then, Beilein seems to have a respectful, professional mentality that NBA players may really appreciate.

Also keep in mind that Flip Saunders seems very comfortable with college coaching, and that he may have trouble drawing a big name. And for at least a season he has a 4 on his roster that is kind of the Beilein platonic ideal.

myblueheaven

May 15th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo sports was the first to tweet...there were a firestorm of tweets in response from the likes of Detroit News sports columnist Rod Beard, Josh Bartelstein and Ace Anbender. It's not hard to believe the NBA would be interested in Coach Beilein with all the success he has has including producing NBA players, some of which who were not even recruited by high majors! Personally I believe he will stay put at Michigan, so it's more of a non-issue than a non story. http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2014/5/12/5711100/john-beilein-nba-rumors…

JamieH

May 15th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^

He seems to love teaching and player development.  I don't really know that you get to do that much at the NBA level, where players are millionaires and can tune you out and basically get you fired because they don't like you telling them what to do. 

JeepinBen

May 15th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^

Imagine JB trying to coach Josh Smith. Imagine him trying to coach any NBA headcase. "Crazy Subs" doesn't scream "Give me some multi-millionaires who can learn my offense!"

Now, the Olympic team and USA basketball on the other hand...

michchi85

May 15th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

That's very intriguing for sure, but the jobs in OKC and Golden State aren't available.  He'd be looking at the Knicks, Cavs, or Timberwolves.  The Knicks are out for sure, and I just can't even fathom Beilein wanting to go to the mess that is the Cavs.  Just isn't going to happen.

MGoChippewa

May 15th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

and would love to be home with it on, but the NBA combine kind of sucks.  No live-action, 5-on-5 play and very few of the top prospects feel the need to show up, let alone compete.  Stauskas did get measured today.  6'6.5" in shoes, 207 pounds, 6'7.75" wingspan and 12% body fat.  The body fat thing could be a bit of a red flag, as his is the highest of anybody measured so far.  Also the highest of any SG in the Draft Express database.

gwkrlghl

May 15th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

I think he loves the player development and the 'molding of young men'. I just can't see Beilein enjoying being the coach of a bunch of diva mercenaries. He's never shown any interest in going to the NBA in like 30 years of coaching. There is 0% chance he ever coaches in the NBA

BlueCube

May 15th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^

he likely wouldn' t have enough time to accomplish it in the NBA.  If you look closely at what has made him successful, they are things that would be minimized in the NBA. You have salary cap constraints, contract constraints, market size, player egos, etc.

I don't think he has any interest. I think he'd love to take a Michigan team to a National Championship or more but he realizes what he has here.

 

 

Yeezus

May 15th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^

Shocked no one mentioned this yet, but Beilein would be a terrific coach for Darryl Morey and the Houston Rockets.  I couldn't think of a better fit, actually.  

bacon1431

May 15th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^

In terms of Xs and Os, I think JB would be pretty darn good in the NBA. He loves basketball and he loves to learn about basketball. I think he'd be able to put out a pretty great offense.

But from a personnel standpoint, the NBA would frustrate the hell out of him. At Michigan, he chooses the types of players he wants. Might not get his plan As or Bs, but he can still be picky in terms of the type of people and players he wants in his program. In the NBA, team owner, president or GM could override him on draft picks, trades, FA signings etc. And he can't be quite as picky because there aren't alot of players capable of playing in the NBA whereas there are plenty capable of playing in college.

And even though he's never been less than a HC in his entire basketball coaching career, I think it'd be more likely for him to be an assistant or some sort of backroom strategy advisor (if such positions exist) in the NBA than a HC. I don't think he'd enjoy the headaches of an NBA coach.

alum96

May 15th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^

JB is 61 years old - I dont have the age of each NBA coach in front of me but just scanning the list of names I think he'd be one of the 3 oldest.  To put in perspective Phil Jackson is 68.  He'd be going to a junky team who he'd have to spend 4 years trying to rebuild etc.  He is not going anywhere.

UMMAN83

May 15th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^

What defines Michigan stay forever ... or commit as players. Beilein found his oasis. All else is rumor.