Flip's Plan Is Working Perfectly

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I remember Bickerstaff as a marginal player for the Gophers, an indistinct assistant coach for the Wolves, and the son of a below-average NBA coach, so I'm trying to understand the love for him here. But I admit I don't know much about him. Sell me on him, please. I know McHale has said some good things about him and credits him for the improvement in the Rockets' defense, but is that enough? He has been mentioned a few times as a possible candidate...the Pistons and Suns come to mind...but never seems to make the final cut. What is there about him that convinces his supporters that he would be an upgrade over Flip?

[Coolbreeze44]

I remember Bickerstaff as a marginal player for the Gophers, an indistinct assistant coach for the Wolves, and the son of a below-average NBA coach, so I'm trying to understand the love for him here. But I admit I don't know much about him. Sell me on him, please. I know McHale has said some good things about him and credits him for the improvement in the Rockets' defense, but is that enough? He has been mentioned a few times as a possible candidate...the Pistons and Suns come to mind...but never seems to make the final cut. What is there about him that convinces his supporters that he would be an upgrade over Flip?

I can't see it. To me he's a guy who would be in way over his head running an NBA team right now. Convince me too.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Sorry to beat a dead horse... but the refute is necessary whenever I see "Who's gonna be the next coach" post.

Why would Flip Saunders willingly give up being one of the 5 most powerful men in the NBA if he doesn't have to? Especially when the team is at its lowest possible point right now... with only improvement ahead (probably) considering they'll have two straight "Legit" #1 picks on the roster to build around.

"Oh, thanks for the great salary and long-term security, Mr. Bossman. But, I think it's better if I let somebody else come in here, take half my salary along with most of the credit."

[mjs34]

Abe, do you think FLip is double dipping. I would bet that he has a salary that doesn't change based on coaching or not. You still only put in so many hours per day.

[Monster]

Sorry to beat a dead horse... but the refute is necessary whenever I see "Who's gonna be the next coach" post.

Why would Flip Saunders willingly give up being one of the 5 most powerful men in the NBA if he doesn't have to? Especially when the team is at its lowest possible point right now... with only improvement ahead (probably) considering they'll have two straight "Legit" #1 picks on the roster to build around.

"Oh, thanks for the great salary and long-term security, Mr. Bossman. But, I think it's better if I let somebody else come in here, take half my salary along with most of the credit."

Abe I think a simple answer to your question is if that guy with all the power (Flip) thinks he can hire someone else that makes the team more successful that he can especially over a longer period of time (Filp isn't old but he ain't young either) and if Flip truly believes the guy he hires (coach) makes the team better he does it. Add to the fact that his Boss Glen wants him to get a coach does matter a little. I think there is enough said by reports and Flip himself that he is open to hiring a coach but I don't disagree at you at all its not going to be easy to give up what Flip has the opportunity to do and that's change the entire franchise. Part of doing that could be hiring a new head coach. I agree we shouldn't be holding our breath on that happening anytime soon. Next April we will see where we are at till then I'm expecting Flip to be coaching.

[Carlos Danger]

"another year has passed with another long, exhaustive coaching search and it turns out, I'm still the best candidate."

-Flip

LOL! That was pretty funny.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Sorry to beat a dead horse... but the refute is necessary whenever I see "Who's gonna be the next coach" post.

Why would Flip Saunders willingly give up being one of the 5 most powerful men in the NBA if he doesn't have to? Especially when the team is at its lowest possible point right now... with only improvement ahead (probably) considering they'll have two straight "Legit" #1 picks on the roster to build around.

"Oh, thanks for the great salary and long-term security, Mr. Bossman. But, I think it's better if I let somebody else come in here, take half my salary along with most of the credit."

Abe I think a simple answer to your question is if that guy with all the power (Flip) thinks he can hire someone else that makes the team more successful that he can especially over a longer period of time (Filp isn't old but he ain't young either) and if Flip truly believes the guy he hires (coach) makes the team better he does it. Add to the fact that his Boss Glen wants him to get a coach does matter a little. I think there is enough said by reports and Flip himself that he is open to hiring a coach but I don't disagree at you at all its not going to be easy to give up what Flip has the opportunity to do and that's change the entire franchise. Part of doing that could be hiring a new head coach. I agree we shouldn't be holding our breath on that happening anytime soon. Next April we will see where we are at till then I'm expecting Flip to be coaching.

Once the Wolves are treading water a bit, I wouldn't be surprised to see a guy brought in eventually. But I definitely don't see that guy as a signature hire with previous autonomy. No big names that could theoretically threaten Flips' lofty standing.At least not until Flip gets the lion's share of credit for the turnaround.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Abe, do you think FLip is double dipping. I would bet that he has a salary that doesn't change based on coaching or not. You still only put in so many hours per day.

That's what I always thought too, sjm, but apparently I was wrong. Take a look at this summary of NBA coach's salaries:

http://www.otherleague.com/contracts/nba-head-coach-contracts-salaries/

Flip is paid $9 million, more than any pure coach (i.e, not PBO also) other than Pop who gets $11 million. The other PBO/coaches, Rivers and Van Gundy, make $10 million and $7 million, respectively. I have never been able to find out what Flip was paid when he was PBO only in 2013-4, but there's no way it was anywhere near $9 million. So, he got a huge raise when Joerger decided to stay with the Grizzlies.

This is why Glen needs to get involved in the coaching decision. PBO/GM salaries are not as easy to research compared to player/coach salaries, but I read one source that says typically GMs make less than $3 million a year. So Flip stands to lose $6 million per year if he is "successful" in finding a new coach. What sane human being is going to work hard for his company if the reward is a 2/3 reduction in salary?

Flip needs this salary too. I believe he is a 3% owner, and he was not given his 3% ownership stake, but had to borrow to buy in when the value of the franchise was about $500 million (it's worth an estimated $650 million now). 3% of $500 million is $15 million. Assuming Flip financed most of his initial investment, his debt service might be $750,000 per year...that's a drop in the bucket if you are making $9 million per year, but a difficult payment to make if your salary is closer to $3 million.

I haven't played around with these numbers before, but now that I have, I'm more and more convinced that Glen needs to tell Flip to get a coach right now. Otherwise , it may never happen.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe, do you think FLip is double dipping. I would bet that he has a salary that doesn't change based on coaching or not. You still only put in so many hours per day.

That's what I always thought too, sjm, but apparently I was wrong. Take a look at this summary of NBA coach's salaries:

http://www.otherleague.com/contracts/nba-head-coach-contracts-salaries/

Flip is paid $9 million, more than any pure coach (i.e, not PBO also) other than Pop who gets $11 million. The other PBO/coaches, Rivers and Van Gundy, make $10 million and $7 million, respectively. I have never been able to find out what Flip was paid when he was PBO only in 2013-4, but there's no way it was anywhere near $9 million. So, he got a huge raise when Joerger decided to stay with the Grizzlies.

This is why Glen needs to get involved in the coaching decision. PBO/GM salaries are not as easy to research compared to player/coach salaries, but I read one source that says typically GMs make less than $3 million a year. So Flip stands to lose $6 million per year if he is "successful" in finding a new coach. What sane human being is going to work hard for his company if the reward is a 2/3 reduction in salary?

Flip needs this salary too. I believe he is a 3% owner, and he was not given his 3% ownership stake, but had to borrow to buy in when the value of the franchise was about $500 million (it's worth an estimated $650 million now). 3% of $500 million is $15 million. Assuming Flip financed most of his initial investment, his debt service might be $750,000 per year...that's a drop in the bucket if you are making $9 million per year, but a difficult payment to make if your salary is closer to $3 million.

I haven't played around with these numbers before, but now that I have, I'm more and more convinced that Glen needs to tell Flip to get a coach right now. Otherwise , it may never happen.

Ummm... that's a lot more convincing than my usual poorly written take where I basically just say "because."

[mjs34]

Holy crap batman!

And I thought Pek was overpaid.