Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Of The Top Head Coach Candidates Available

Sam Cassell

Sam Cassell is a longtime NBA assistant coach with the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers. He was with the Wizards for five seasons from 2009-14 under both Flip Saunders and Randy Wittman. He joined Doc Rivers‘ staff with the Clippers for the 2014-15 season and has been with him ever since.

His final season playing in the NBA was in 2007-08 with the Boston Celtics when Doc Rivers was there head coach. He started the season with the Clippers but was later waived which led to him signing with the Celtics for their playoff run. He proved to be a valuable piece to their second unit as he helped them win the 2008 NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers.

When he was with the Wizards he was a valuable piece to his coaching staff as Paul Pierce said he was a part of the reason he eventually signed there. That signing proved to be a big one despite not advancing deep into the playoffs since Pierce hit multiple clutch shots during the postseason.

Cassell has spent the past decade learning from some great head coaches in the NBA and he could be on his way to becoming a head coach. He bounced around from team to team during his playing career with eight different teams in 15 seasons, but as an assistant coach, he is on just team number two in his 10th season.

He was a very successful point guard during his playing days and he has been a very good assistant coach during his coaching career. Doc Rivers is one of the best there is when it comes to a head coach.

Rivers has taken the Clippers to the playoffs and a 48-34 record despite not having a star, and them trading away their best player Tobias Harris at the deadline. Cassell has learned from one of the best, and he is ready to be a head coach and that could be sooner, rather than later.