Well, we’ve had two coaching firings already this season, one we saw coming and another wasn’t even on the radar.
Those two might not be the end of it. You’ve got some really bad teams this season and others who just aren’t living up to expectations. Some of the coaches on our list of NBA hot seat rankings have had success. At least one has been a Coach of the Year. Most of them have been to the playoffs and a couple of them have led teams to more than 50 wins.
Here are some of the top candidates to be next on the list.
NBA hot seat rankings
- Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons
- Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
- Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers
- Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers
- Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors
Moved off: Wes Unseld Jr., Billy Donovan. Moved on: Darko Rajakovic
Our analysis of the candidates on the NBA coaching hot seat.
NBA hot seat 2024
Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons
Monty Williams is in the first year of a large contract — the largest ever when it was signed — but if things don’t turn around, could the Pistons eat that money? They probably should. Williams’ team has been just awful.
Five wins, odd lineup adjustments. There are no moves that seem to have cohesion. There doesn’t seem to be development and nobody is having any fun there. Williams has been coaching like he wants to be fired.
Related: NBA Insider says Monty Williams’ job isn’t safe
Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets made a big trade, sending Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat for Kyle Lowry and a No. 1 draft pick. That was a good move for the future. Then, they got a huge win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 points. Could this be the start of something good?
Clifford is one of the most-liked guys around the league and he needs more positive things to happen. Maybe he gets to hang on for a while longer.
Related: Joel Embiid on pace for unimaginable record
Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers
Chauncey Billups hasn’t done much to make folks in Portland feel good about the future. The team can’t seem to string together any wins. Then, this week, he was ignored by a referee while trying to call a time out and was eventually thrown out of the game. Talk about a lack of respect.
There are whispers around the league that the Blazers’ top draft pick, Scoot Henderson, is a bust. Everybody knew this was a building project, but not much lately has been positive.
Related: NBA mid-season awards, Finals picks
Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers
As it stands now, the Lakers would be in the play-in. But that’s not good enough in Los Angeles. This is still a team that ranks near the bottom in most offensive categories.
Ham has cut back on the lineup tinkering and may have found one he’ll stick with. But if this team misses the playoffs the way that Anthony Davis and LeBron James have played, then it’ll be clear a change is needed.
Related: Shocking allegation made against New York Knicks owner
Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors
First, we understand that Rajakovic has been the recipient of front-office decisions. The team traded OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, which took away quite a bit of offensive punch.
But we know how things work. After a flurry of moves, if the situation doesn’t have the feeling it’s getting better, the coach pays the price. That could happen here since the Raptors have lost seven of eight games.