The Indiana Pacers made a surprising decision to fire head coach Nate McMillan after being swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Miami Heat. After just recently announcing an extension, the move was a head-scratcher. Now, it appears that the Pacers are going to do everything they can to hire Mike D’Antoni to replace him.
According to a report from Legion Hoops, the Pacers are planning an “all-out pursuit” to hire D’Antoni to be their new head coach.
D’Antoni would be a very intriguing fit for the Pacers. Multiple roster moves would likely follow, as Indiana would need to tweak their roster to fit their new offensive system. However, it would be well worth it.
Indiana already has quite a few offensive weapons that D’Antoni could get the most out of. Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, T.J. Warren, and Domantas Sabonis could all fit well with D’Antoni. Trading Myles Turner seems like a likely move for the Pacers should they hire D’Antoni.
During his time as head coach of the Houston Rockets, D’Antoni compiled a 217-101 record in the regular season. He also led the team to a 28-23 record in the playoffs.
If the Pacers want to get serious about taking the next step as a franchise, spending some money to bring in a proven coach like D’Antoni would make sense. The move would signal their desire to win and win now. That could help keep Oladipo happy and in-town long-term.
All of that being said, this is something to keep an eye on in the coming days. The Pacers are seemingly going to do everything they can to get an agreement with Mike D’Antoni in place.
NBA Analysis Network brings you up-to-date information, news, and analysis about the Indiana Pacers and all 30 teams in the league. Make sure to give us a follow on Twitter and like our Facebook page.
