Now that there are just four teams remaining in the NBA Playoffs, everyone who currently has a head coaching job is probably safe. But that doesn’t mean some aren’t set to enter next season on the hot seat.
According to The Athletic’s NBA insider John Hollinger, the discussion of which coaches may be on the hot seat came up during the NBA Draft Combine, where he consistently heard the same three names mentioned.
Are Taylor Jenkins, Willie Green, and Chauncey Billups on the hot seat?
Hollinger’s sources revealed that Memphis’ Taylor Jenkins, New Orleans’ Willie Green, and Portland’s Chauncey Billups are all names some around the NBA are monitoring closely as possible candidates to be fired.
While Jenkins took home NBA’s Coach of the Year honors in 2022, his Grizzlies were hit with the injury bug in 2023, struggling to a 27-55 record. Otherwise, he’s made the playoffs in three of his five seasons at the helm. Yet, Memphis recently fired a large portion of their coaching staff, which could have the front office starting to question Jenkins too.
Meanwhile, Green is coming off a playoff season with the New Orleans Pelicans, his second postseason appearance in three seasons. But there have also been some questions about whether Green is maximizing the potential of his current roster. Green recently signed a contract extension, but Hollinger’s sources suggest if New Orleans gets off to a slow start next season, then they could be looking for a new head coach.
Billups is entering the final year of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, and GM Joe Cronin did not hire him. Like Jenkins, Portland recently fired several of Billups’ assistants, including his brother. With a win percentage of just 32.9% across three seasons, Billups may not make it through his fourth.
While we’re still waiting to see who the Los Angeles Lakers will hire, as Hollinger notes, there could be a trio of current head coaches who find themselves looking for work in the near future.