They haven't been able to keep or acquire good assistants and that's on Pop.
First Messina and Ime left at the same time and didn't even leave to be NBA head coaches. Messina back to Europe and Ime left to be an assistant. Then Hardy left ... To be an assistant.
I used to think assistants were leaving for better opportunities or not joining due to worries of future security.
But now I think it just as likely that the word is out that "you don't want to be with Pop". Maybe that's a personality thing, maybe it's a "no more spark in the eyes" thing where no one wants that stress of an elderly person in that condition.
It was really weird how they couldn't get anyone to be assistant so badly they had to emergency elevate their gleague coach and beg Duncan to mind Pop and he noped out as soon as the season was over.
It was really weird how Pop refused to name a lead assistant and just decided that in cases of ejection that whoever scouted the opponent would be coach.
It was really weird how he hired and repeatedly re-hired Hammon to the point where she has by far the most tenure but wasn't allowed to coach in his absence and he snapped on reporters for asking about making history and responding that it wasn't his job to make history. Hey Pop, if you don't want to have a woman fill in for you as coach, don't repeatedly hire a woman assistant coach!
Now Brett Brown is there, but he might be a guy who can't get hired anywhere anyway.
If Pop can't get good assistants to join him that's his fault.
This would seem like a good gig, elderly coach, superstar prospect, a GM who isn't commanding with an iron fist and could probably be handled by the right coach ... Something might be up