The Bulls, Spurs and Magic rotated coaches in the last couple days.
- Adrian Griffin goes from Chicago to Orlando
- James Borrego goes from Orlando to San Antonio
- Jim Boylen goes from San Antonio to Chicago
I think the Magic are the big winner in the shuffle. There’s probably a shelf-life on Scott Skiles’ hard-driving disciplinary style. If Orlando has his eventual replacement on the bench when Skiles burns out or his players burn out on him, that’s a nice bonus. Griffin is developing a reputation as someone with the defensive approach of Skiles (or his old boss, Tom Thibodeau) but with better people skills. He’s on track to become an NBA head coach.
Borrego was the Magic’s interim coach last season, and he previously worked for the Spurs. His experience in both roles should be an asset in San Antonio.
Boylen gets to spread his wings outside Gregg Popovich’s shadow, getting the “associate head coach” title with the Bulls. It’ll be interesting to see whether the can still land a former NBA head coach to ease Fred Hoiberg’s transition from Iowa State. Hoiberg played in the NBA and worked in the Timberwolves’ front office, but it’d still help to have a former NBA head coach on staff.