Ranking the best available NBA head coaching candidates

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates after the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

6 of 10

MISSISSAUGA, CANADA – APRIL 25: Jerry Stackhouse of the Raptors 905 coaches against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during Game Two of the D-League Finals at the Hershey Centre on April 25, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Jerry Stackhouse

Winning in the NBA is all about a coach’s ability to connect with his players. As a recent former player himself, Jerry Stackhouse has the rare ability to speak to players in a way they can immediately trust and understand.

That skill makes him a very intriguing candidate for a number of teams that are working hard to develop young talent. It doesn’t make sense to hand Stackhouse a contender at this point in his career, but he could be an ideal leader for a franchise loaded with young, unproven talent.

Many NBA insiders believe Stackhouse is the most likely first-time coach to land a head job this summer. Undoubtedly, his success in the G-League has gone a long way towards making general managers comfortable with his abilities. The former North Carolina star has shepherded Toronto’s G-League franchise to back-to-back Finals.

The real question for Stackhouse is whether or not he should accept a bottom tier job if it’s offered to him. It’s difficult to earn your first head coaching job, but taking on a moribund franchise can also kill your career before it starts. Stackhouse needs to work hard to find the perfect fit.

Home/NBA