LA Clippers: 5 candidates to replace Doc Rivers as head coach

2. Sam Cassell

The Clippers may have some competition from the Houston Rockets here, but Sam Cassell could be a very solid, logical choice to replace Rivers in LA — especially since he’s served as an assistant on his coaching staff since 2014.

Cassell has served as an assistant coach in the league since 2009, when he joined Flip Saunders’ staff with the Washington Wizards. After five seasons there, during which time John Wall credited Cassell with his development, the former point guard came to join Rivers’ staff. People mostly remember Cassell for his tenure with the Rockets during his playing days, but don’t forget that he also spent three seasons with the Clippers towards the end of his career.

Cassell has garnered glowing praise from Rivers as one of the many assistants in the league who seems primed to make the jump to the big chair someday soon. Hiring a first-time head coach to manage a title-or-bust Clippers squad is risky, but Cassell is well-respected around the league and can relate to these players, especially since he’s already so familiar with them.