Fire the coaching staff

[SubGod22]

Raptors Rapture - 3 teams who will regret not hiring Raptors coach Adrian Griffin

Griffin has more than enough experience when it comes to building a resume. After retiring as a player, Griffin immediately made the move to coaching. Considering that Nick Nurse allowed Griffin to coach during his season finale, the former power forward is clearly the team’s top assistant.

There were very few coaching changes this offseason, as only four teams made new hires. One of them was due to a resignation rather than a firing. Even with that, the fact Griffin was passed over once again is a bit surprising considering how often Toronto assistants get poached.

These three teams might look back on the 2022 offseason with a tinge of regret for not hiring Griffin. He made his rounds on the interview circuit, but his experience and coaching acumen apparently didn’t impress as much as some out-of-the-blue youngsters or rehired retreads.

Toronto’s player development culture doesn’t end once the players leave Raptors 905. Griffin’s ability to turn big men and guards alike into contributors should be coveted by a team looking toward the future.

[shock]

Isn't that what we're supposed to have now in Kennedy?

That’s what we were told.

[Ashockalypse]

If we have to hire a mentor for a coach in order to hire a coach, we are getting the wrong guy. These ideas sound totally desperate. Is WSU desperate? Just get a good up and coming proven Coach like we did in 2007. No stupid ideas. Jury rigging doesn’t work- see SMU, Memphis etc.

[SubGod22]

If we have to hire a mentor for a coach in order to hire a coach, we are getting the wrong guy. These ideas sound totally desperate. Is WSU desperate? Just get a good up and coming proven Coach like we did in 2007. No stupid ideas. Jury rigging doesn’t work- see SMU, Memphis etc.

I don't think anyone is actually talking about a mentor approach. A guy like Griffin would just need someone familiar with the college side of things, but I don't think he would need any sort of mentor. Like every successful coach, he would just need to surround himself with guys that complimented his strengths and weaknesses. Griffin is a guy that is more than ready to lead a team.

Even outside of Griffin, everyone we've talked about has been a HC or been the right hand man of one and has been groomed for a HC position.

Hiring a guy like Griffin though would have nothing to do with desperation. He's got a ton of experience as a coach and a player at the highest levels. He's been interviewed for NBA jobs. He has expressed interest in the past of taking on the NCAA and Wichita State in particular. He has connections. He has experience. He's credited with a lot of the development of guys in the Toronto organization. He knows how to coach. He can relate to the athletes we'd be recruiting and has the experience to sell them on playing for him. If hiring a guy like that is desperation, than consider me desperate.

Hiring any coach has some risk. Some more than others. But there are no guarantees. But the more I read about Griffin the more I like him as a legit possibility if we land him before he gets an NBA job.

[Stickboy46]

Griffin will be an NBA coach sooner rather than later. I agree he would be a GREAT high risk/high reward hire. I don't think he will still be available by the end of HCIB's current contract though.

[SubGod22]

Griffin will be an NBA coach sooner rather than later. I agree he would be a GREAT high risk/high reward hire. I don't think he will still be available by the end of HCIB's current contract though.

Current contract? Probably not. End of this season? Absolutely.

If we make a change at the end of this year (dependent upon Saal's work with boosters), Griffin could be a major player if interested. If we don't/can't make a move after this season, the window of opportunity shrinks if not closes.

I'm not saying he is THE man or the only option, but I remain very interested in the possibility of what he could do here.

And while I think a move at the end of the season is not the most likely, I'm working with that as the idea until proven otherwise. We'll see how the rest of this season goes but I'm less than optimistic and hopeful that someones with money will be willing to help us make a change.

[Dan]

I get the sense that Griffin is getting mentioned only because he is from Wichita. There are a hundred guys out there with NBA experience as players and assistant coaches. The only thing that differentiates Griffin is that he's from Wichita originally. College coaching is a different game. You have to teach these kids how to play (unbrainwash them from AAU), learn how to recruit, learn the NCAA rules, keep kids eligible, scheduling, etc. I think we need a guy with college experience.

[WuDrWu]

I would like to (at least) gauge interest and interview John Cooper and LeVelle Moton.

[SubGod22]

Griffin gets mentioned because he's previously expressed interest in the job. Being from Wichita is just an add on. He's also been credited with helping develop players, both bigs and guards, within the Raptors organization. Yes, he would need a coach or two on staff more familiar with some of the college aspects/rules, but I don't think that's a major concern for him in particular.

[SubGod22]

I would like to (at least) gauge interest and interview John Cooper and LeVelle Moton.

I do love Coach Moton and he's a great follow on Twitter.

I used to have higher hopes for Coop. Some of that shine wore off when he struggled at Miami (OH). But I wouldn't rule him out. It was Miami (OH) after all.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

I get the sense that Griffin is getting mentioned only because he is from Wichita. There are a hundred guys out there with NBA experience as players and assistant coaches. The only thing that differentiates Griffin is that he's from Wichita originally. College coaching is a different game. You have to teach these kids how to play (unbrainwash them from AAU), learn how to recruit, learn the NCAA rules, keep kids eligible, scheduling, etc. I think we need a guy with college experience.

With respect to recruiting, I think he would be just fine. His NBA connections will help and he has been through the process himself as well as with two high-profile sons who were recruited.

He isn't just being mentioned because he is from Wichita. He is arguably THE most sought after and well thought of NBA assistant coach. In today's day and age (NIL, AAU, etc) I think he is perfectly suited for the college game. We have to get out of this thinking that college basketball is what it was 10, 20, 30 years ago because it is not. You either adapt or you get left behind. WSU is and will be quickly left behind if we keep this mindset.

[Onegreatracer]

If we have to hire a mentor for a coach in order to hire a coach, we are getting the wrong guy. These ideas sound totally desperate. Is WSU desperate? Just get a good up and coming proven Coach like we did in 2007. No stupid ideas. Jury rigging doesn’t work- see SMU, Memphis etc.

Sorry, but I’d trade spots with Memphis in a heartbeat right now. Violations and all.

[ShockerFever]

He doesn't quite fit the list.

LMAO, typical over-the-head Aargh

[rjl]

As others have said, the game has changed. This potential hire is about half a PR move as anything else. PR for the team's national image, PR for the boosters, and the PR for existing and potential players.

All signs point to Griffin being about as good of a PR hire as we can potentially get, short of finding a once-great with a few years left in the tank before retirement.

The other half of the potential hire is coaching. Griffin doesn't have the head coaching experience, but I believe he's been an interim a few times while Nurse was sick or away. The main question I would have is whether the NBA principles can apply to the college level where, even at best, a majority of the team will be decidedly non-NBA talent.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

The other half of the potential hire is coaching. Griffin doesn't have the head coaching experience, but I believe he's been an interim a few times while Nurse was sick or away. The main question I would have is whether the NBA principles can apply to the college level where, even at best, a majority of the team will be decidedly non-NBA talent.

The Raptors have been absolutely brutal in the halfcourt on offense this year so I think that would translate well to WSU lmao