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to recap:
seattle loses nate
ad seems likely to land on an eastern conf team
ray allen gets close to max money
does seattle make the playoffs next season? man, that looks like a franchise that had a lot going for it, only to piss it all away.
Sonics: Weiss a top candidate for Sonics coaching job
The Seattle Times
July 10, 2005
The coaching search to replace Mr. Sonic, Nate McMillan, has begun with Mr. Original Sonic, Bob Weiss. The longtime Seattle assistant has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the vacancy.
General manager Rick Sund declined to comment specifically about Weiss, saying: "I want to wait until I get further along in the process before saying anything."
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Sund would not reveal which candidates were at the top of an extensive list that he plans to whittle down to a handful of potential replacements before Tuesday.
However, during a radio interview yesterday afternoon, Weiss told KJR-AM that after 11 years as an assistant he's interested in becoming a head coach again and had spoken to the NBA team about filling the position created when McMillan left last week to coach the Portland Trail Blazers.
A team source confirmed that Sund and Weiss met for dinner Friday. While not a formal interview, the source said the meeting was more than a courtesy to an assistant who has been with the franchise since Nov. 17, 1994.
Sund also has spoken with Dean Demopoulos, a Sonics assistant the past four seasons, and Jack Sikma, who has spent two seasons on the coaching staff. Neither is considered a head-coaching candidate.
Demopoulos is headed to Minnesota, where he will become the lead assistant for Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey, a longtime Sonics coach under McMillan and others. Sikma will lead the Sonics' summer-league team, which begins games in Salt Lake City on Friday.
Weiss, 63, was not considered an early favorite among a list of candidates that includes Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni, former Minnesota coach Flip Saunders and former Cleveland coach Paul Silas. However, Weiss may have the most impressive resume.
He meets many of the traits that several Sonics players listed when management asked their input.
"He'd be my No. 1 vote," forward Danny Fortson said yesterday during a telephone interview. "He's well-deserving. He's paid his dues. I think a lot of us can relate to him. ... Now, it might not happen for him, but I'd be very comfortable with Bob Weiss as my coach."
Weiss, a member of the first Sonics team in the 1967-68 season, has strong ties to the franchise, has detailed knowledge of the players and favors the up-tempo offense the Sonics have adopted.
He has been a head coach with three teams - San Antonio, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Clippers - compiling a 210-288 record in six seasons. His first stint was with the Spurs in 1986 and his last position was in 1993 with the Clippers before joining the Sonics as an assistant.
Weiss has playoff experience as a player and coach. He was a 6-foot-3 guard who played on nine playoff teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers team that won the NBA le in 1967.
>He also led the Hawks to two playoff berths, but has a 2-12 postseason record.
>One NBA source said McMillan extended an invitation to Weiss to join the Blazers staff.
>"From what I've seen, he was very much involved in all of the thought process," Fortson said. "Put it this way: It would have been a big hole."
>Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or [email protected]
to recap:
seattle loses nate
ad seems likely to land on an eastern conf team
ray allen gets close to max money
does seattle make the playoffs next season? man, that looks like a franchise that had a lot going for it, only to piss it all away.
It intrigues me to think about the AD to LA murmer. I think Phillup would covet a big defensive point a la Ron Harper.
Daniels
Bryant
Butler
Odom
Divac
in the triangle probably gets LA back to the post season.
Maybe Weiss will bring back Frank Brickowski.
Oh, yeah, he's eminently qualified to coach. Go for it and watch the Sonics get a lottery pick next year.
I think Weiss is great.
I've interviewed him a couple of times and talked to him every time I go to Seattle for Spurs-Sonics games.
He's a great guy and I think he would be the best candidate for the job.
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