The Denver Nuggets said that they would cast a wide net as they searched for a new head coach after firing Brian Shaw in March, and they did look at 6 candidates such as Michael Malone, Alvin Gentry, Mike D’Antoni, Scott Skiles, David Vanterpool, Billy Donovan, and Fred Hoiberg.
The teams final decision as to who gets the job though may not be any of these guys, and it may be a familiar face who was with them all along, their interim head coach, Melvin Hunt. He was first thought to possibly be the teams long term head coach back in March, and now it is looking even more like he will be the coach.
Jared Swerling from BleacherReport tweeted,
Also from a source: Melvin Hunt is currently the front-runner for the Nuggets’ coaching job. Mike D’Antoni has not interviewed with Denver.
— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) May 28, 2015
Melvin Hunt did a great job coaching the Nuggets after they fired Brian Shaw, and they went 10-13 with him under the helm. With Shaw, they were 20-39.
Hunt did a great job with the team after Shaw left, and this may be the key to why he may get the job for next season. But the Nuggets front office should ask themselves something, if Hunt had not ended the season for them, would they hire him? If they still would, then they should go for it, but if they wouldn’t have, they should reevaluate hiring him.
At this point, the Nuggets should hire the man who they think they will win the most games for them. If that is Hunt, then go for it, but if it is not, then look at other people. They have not interviewed Mike D’Antoni yet, so before they make a final decision on who to hire, they need to talk to him.
