Shams: Mitch Johnson Named Spurs New Head Coach

[dn0774]

After a week and some change of this move taking place I have started to feel a bit more positive about it. Having Mitch grow and learn as a head coach with a team that is young and unaccomplished and isn't quite saddled with massive expectations (outside of this forum anyway) yet could be end up paying dividends. The Spurs clearly want to follow that OKC Thunder trek that they started on 2 years ago. Mark Daigneault essentially just did what the Spurs are hoping Mitch can do under somewhat similar cir stances.

I also believe it was clearly a cost saving move which I can sort of understand; Mitch will be paid much less than what a Jenkins/Malone type would command and with Pop's massive salary on the books they were always going to be frugal with their HC hire unless perhaps it was thought the team was championship ready (which no 34 win team is).

I had plenty of Mitch complaints during the season (horrible 1st quarters, awful rebounding, bad sub patterns to name some big ones), hopefully with the team being officially his we can see him iron out the kinks. Looking at the situation objectively, the Spurs added 12 wins this year despite Wemby missing 36 games and openly tanking after the All Star break. That probably deserves giving him the spot for 2 seasons and seeing what we see. I do have concerns about our player development (or lack of) going forward, a lot of our young guys have stagnated and the coaching staff deserves blame there.

My main concern going forward with Mitch isn't necessarily even about Mitch, its about the front office/decision makers. If the team doesn't take the next step that is expected these next 2 years will they be willing to make the tough decision and bump out the homegrown culture guy Mitch or will they just ride him to perpetual mediocrity and an eventual Wemby exodus?

[scott]

After a week and some change of this move taking place I have started to feel a bit more positive about it. Having Mitch grow and learn as a head coach with a team that is young and unaccomplished and isn't quite saddled with massive expectations (outside of this forum anyway) yet could be end up paying dividends. The Spurs clearly want to follow that OKC Thunder trek that they started on 2 years ago. Mark Daigneault essentially just did what the Spurs are hoping Mitch can do under somewhat similar cir stances.

I also believe it was clearly a cost saving move which I can sort of understand; Mitch will be paid much less than what a Jenkins/Malone type would command and with Pop's massive salary on the books they were always going to be frugal with their HC hire unless perhaps it was thought the team was championship ready (which no 34 win team is).

I had plenty of Mitch complaints during the season (horrible 1st quarters, awful rebounding, bad sub patterns to name some big ones), hopefully with the team being officially his we can see him iron out the kinks. Looking at the situation objectively, the Spurs added 12 wins this year despite Wemby missing 36 games and openly tanking after the All Star break. That probably deserves giving him the spot for 2 seasons and seeing what we see. I do have concerns about our player development (or lack of) going forward, a lot of our young guys have stagnated and the coaching staff deserves blame there.

My main concern going forward with Mitch isn't necessarily even about Mitch, its about the front office/decision makers. If the team doesn't take the next step that is expected these next 2 years will they be willing to make the tough decision and bump out the homegrown culture guy Mitch or will they just ride him to perpetual mediocrity and an eventual Wemby exodus?

I think this will be the crux going forward. Either the homegrown coaches AND players will get it done, or they won’t… if they don’t - does the FO have the for ude to make quick, decisive and significant changes? Without even getting into Wemby exodus doom scenarios - we are running towards the end of the time frame where we can afford to “be patient” and not have expectations for winning. At some point Wemby will hit a window where it will just be criminal to not put the team he deserves around him.

[dbestpro]

This still smells of Pop not wanting to let go of control.

[dn0774]

This still smells of Pop not wanting to let go of control.

After seeing Pop last week, i'd say he has more important things to focus his efforts towards than micro-managing the team from afar. And if Mitch is the guy the front office says he is, he will gently and respectfully tell Pop to piss off.

[BackHome]

Has there ever been a rookie coach picked to coach a team that has 3 top 4 draft picks?

[Guru of Nothing]

Evil ing genius.

[LeBowen]

Has there ever been a rookie coach picked to coach a team that has 3 top 4 draft picks?

Scott Brooks took over for PJ Carlesimo after 13 games in 2008-09 season, the first season after the relocation.

[skin27]

Now he can stop parroting pop

[Guru of Nothing]

I've never thought of myself as being a member of the Sniffer crew, but right now I'm pretty excited about this hire.
Mitch begins with a clean slate as far as I'm concerned. ... Can someone please pass this along to Mitch? tia

Bar none, his most important objective will be to develop the killer 3-guard rotation around Wemby, and for this reason alone, I'm strongly in favor of running back CP3 one more time because I have no doubt the final results will be far greater if he's on the roster. Not just for developing the young pups, but now would be a great time for Fox to think about what he can do to become a mentor too ... and when Castle and Harper fully actualize, Fox's trade value should remain high - a properly load-balanced,all-star caliber PG with a ring(s), and track record of developing and elevating the games of young players = maximized value.

Man, it's a long five weeks until the draft.

[NickiRasgo]

Anyone has the contract details? The only logical reasons why the Spurs hired him instead of going after bigger names coach (e.g. Malone, Jenkins) is that he's cheap (Pop contract is until 2028) and players like him already in terms of relationship.
Personally, not my choice either but given the cir stances it's understandable. Perhaps it's only around 3 years and if it doesn't work out, hope Hammon will be available by then (her contract will end in 2027).

[Mal]

Tiago Splitter after brilliant season with Paris in Euroleague is expected to go to NBA as assistant coach. Any word if Spurs are interested ?

[cutewizard]

I was reflecting that this.....this is what made Coach Pop great, the gravitas.....the presence.....

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[cutewizard]

Perhaps Coach Mitch can craft his own version of gravitas as he becomes more seasoned, hmmmm

[BackHome]

If they not going to Pony up for a veteran coach at least pay for better assistant coaches - A very good assistant that has shown he can develop players, and a assistant that is good developing the defensive side of the ball. Oh, and a good shooting coach. I also think we need to start drafting some bigs in the the draft after taking Harper - getting Splitter would be sweet

[exstatic]

If they not going to Pony up for a veteran coach at least pay for better assistant coaches - A very good assistant that has shown he can develop players, and a assistant that is good developing the defensive side of the ball. Oh, and a good shooting coach. I also think we need to start drafting some bigs in the the draft after taking Harper - getting Splitter would be sweet

Someone isn’t paying attention to the thread. Just hired Corliss Willamson away from Minny. He’s he architect of their defense, ranked 1st and 6th the last two seasons.

I’d rather have a young maverick than an old retread. You can’t develop another Spo without hiring a young guy.

[Fireball]

Tiago Splitter after brilliant season with Paris in Euroleague is expected to go to NBA as assistant coach. Any word if Spurs are interested ?

he joins the Blazers if I heard that correctly in a podcast

[RC_Drunkford]

defensive coach was really the biggest need tbh. Would still like to add more to the staff and especially coaches for player development.

[Spurs Brazil]

[cutewizard]

Wow!

Contender for Coach of the Year.....!

[SpursFan86]

Makes sense. Feel good storyline with him taking Pop’s place + Spurs are a team many expect to make a big improvement next year. If they win 50+ games I think he’ll have a good shot (regardless of the actual quality of coaching).

[Dejounte]

Coach of the year means high win total. Do they expect the spurs to win a lot without durant? Or is it because they think they’ll get durant and win a lot?

[scott]

Coach of the year means high win total. Do they expect the spurs to win a lot without durant? Or is it because they think they’ll get durant and win a lot?

I think this means the Sports book is expecting people to bet on this so they can make money.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[Dejounte]

I think this means the Sports book is expecting people to bet on this so they can make money.

Nothing more, nothing less.

well why do they think betters will bet on this? What makes the spurs team right now a good bet for betters?

[ismael-robert]

Two healthy stars, one in the making, 2 lotto picks, resurgent keldon, Devin, sochan taking off the tanking shackles

[SpursFan86]

well why do they think betters will bet on this? What makes the spurs team right now a good bet for betters?

Look at my post above. Even if they make no big moves at all, they figure to have a much better record if Wemby/Fox are healthy + presumably Harper. I wouldn’t read into it as a “this means Vegas thinks KD is going to SA” type thing. People are expecting the Spurs to make a leap next year either way.