Looks like there will be a decision made on McHale’s future with the franchise by the end of the week at the latest.
Kahn last week asked us media types to give him some quiet time to decide the matter because he considered the attention generated by the two men’s first two meetings over dinner created what he called an undesirable “breathless, moment-by-moment” situation.
I sent him a text message tonight and asked if he was passing behind the moon for a prolonged period of radio silence and if a decision might come this week.
His response simply was: “Shhh.”
Former NBA coaches Sam Mitchell, Avery Johnson and Jeff Van Gundy and current Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau are available candidates. A dark-horse possibility is former Atlanta, Cleveland and Memphis coach Mike Fratello, the longtime television commentator who was part of the NBC broadcast crew when Kahn worked on the network’s “Showtime” NBA show in the early 1990s. Fratello last coached the Grizzlies in 2006.
Certainly, it’s a tough job, because we have so much work to do and so many pieces to add. But there is a lot of freedom and flexibility here that a lot of times isn’t associated with taking over a new job.
I do get grumpy when we lose, but I try not to show it. (NBA executive) Donnie Walsh taught me well that if I walk through the office after a game or the next morning and people see the disappointment on my face, well, then I need to understand that’s going to impact their lives. I need to make certain in this position that, even in trying times, people keep their chin up and attack the next day.
We all have ego. As much as all of us will try to deny it, we all do. It is important that we do a good job here. I’m eager to achieve success. And I hope we can. And then good things will follow.
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