Doc Rivers says Sam Cassell deserves a head coaching job

Doc Rivers thinks Sam Cassell should still be a head coach.

The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best coaching staffs in the league even when Doc Rivers is taken out of the equation, as Sam Cassell and Tyronn Lue stand out as two of the best assistants in the entire league. Lue might not be in LA much longer given his connections to the 76ers head coaching vacancy, but Rivers is puzzled as to why Cassell isn’t being looked at in the same fashion.

Rivers is incensed that Cassell still hasn’t been hired as a head coach, claiming that he’s done everything necessary to earn himself a shot at one of the league’s premier jobs.

Sam Cassell was a terrific point guard in his day, and he’s been a solid assistant coach

Since being a tremendous point guard has helped the likes of Steve Nash, Isiah Thomas, and Rivers himself get head coaching jobs, Cassell can certainly check that box. While he was a bit of a journeyman who moved around a bit during his 15-year career, Cassell averaged 15.7 points and 6.0 assists per game. His best years came around the turn of the millennium with the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Immediately after retiring as a player in 2009, Cassell joined former coach Flip Saunders as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, where he received rave reviews for his development of a young John Wall. Cassell stayed in Washington until 2014 when he joined Rivers’ staff with the Clippers.

A superb basketball mind with a decade of experience on the bench, Cassell would be ideal for any team that is building themselves around a young point guard.

Lue became a title-winning coach after taking over in Cleveland with less experience under his belt than Cassell. Even if he doesn’t get a job this cycle, Cassell’s time will come given his pedigree.