Hot Head Coaching Prospects

So who moves in when these guys are moved out? The undeniable hot No. 1 among pro assistants is the Nets' Eddie Jordan, who had some interviews this summer and then got a sweet deal to stay in New Jersey. (Plus, there are those who swear he really coaches the Nets anyway.) One has to think that Jordan has an out clause to get a job that appeals to him. He might do wonders with the kids in Indiana should the occasion arise. Another up-and-comer is Dwane Casey, the Sonics' associate head coach. He, too, would likely receive consideration should an opening occur. And it appears Nate McMillan isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so Casey may have to leave to take the next step. Ex-pro coaches such as Jeff Van Gundy and even Mike Dunleavy (whom Jerry West hired in Los Angeles) also will be mentioned when the first vacancy appears. Among college coaches, here's a name to consider: Maryland's Gary Williams. He's coming off an NCAA title and has let it be known he wouldn't mind a crack at the pros. One might have included Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson in that mix as well, at least until he got an up-front look at how bad things can get as one of George Karl's assistants at the recent World Championships. Now you have to think that Norman, Okla., looks pretty good.

Some economists would call it full employment. And, when 27 out of 29 coaches who ended the season are back for the next one, that's about as secure and stable and employment-tranquil as it gets in the NBA.

Jeff Bzdelik and Eric Musselman are the new kids on the block, both inheriting predictably tough situations. Bzdelik will try to keep Denver competitive without a lot of talent and with a lot of promising kids. Musselman gets a crack at a quasi-talented roster -- on paper, anyway -- in trying to resurrect the moribund Warriors.

And Bill Cartwright (Chicago), Don Chaney (New York) and Frank Johnson (Phoenix) all begin the season a little bit more toward center court than where they started last year -- as assistants. Of those three, Cartwright appears to have the most secure spot, not to mention a roster of ostensibly talented youngsters. We'll see.

But inherent at the start of any pro sports season is the grouping of, for lack of a better phrase, Coaches on the Edge. They begin the season as candidates for the coaching guillotine for any number of reasons, ranging from impossible situations to impossible bosses to their own, heretofore mediocre performance. They know who they are. Or, at least, they should know who they are. In the unlikely event they don't, we're here to provide an early look at those unfortunate fellows whose jobs appear to be in the proverbial crosshairs.

	Thomas

Isiah Thomas, Indiana Pacers
For the last two seasons, all we've heard is how young the Pacers are. That's true. They are young. So is the league. But they were a year older than they were the year before and we still heard how young they were. At some point, you need results, and the guess here is that Pacers management isn't going to sit idly by and watch this group of talented kids again slog through to another break-even season. There's really no excuse for it; they're better than that. There probably aren't a handful of teams who wouldn't swap rosters with Donnie Walsh, but, to date, the returns are unconvincing. Two eighth-place finishes. Two first-round exits. Forever .500, whether it was with or without Jalen Rose, or with or without Al Harrington. And, let's not forget, they still have the 37-year-old Indiana Icon himself, Reggie Miller. "I want them to understand that Uncle Reggie isn't going to be around forever," Miller said of his teammates. "I want to win and I want to win now. There are a lot of sacrifices that go into winning. I want them to understand that." If they don't, Thomas might be the one who pays the price.

	Gentry

Alvin Gentry, Los Angeles Clippers
Coaching the Clippers is an occupational hazard. There's no other way around it. Gentry is beginning his third season with the Clippers and there is no way he'll stick around if he can't get them into the postseason. But bear this in mind: Only one man in the last 20 years has coached the Clippers for three straight seasons -- Bill Fitch. And he had to go to court to collect money he was owed after he was fired because Clippers boss Donald Sterling thought he didn't look hard enough to find a new job. (And didn't want to pay him.) Chris Ford never made it out of Year 2. Bob Weiss lasted one year. Larry Brown lasted 1½ years. And so on. A lot of people think the Clippers could be a team on the rise, but there's always that hidden spectre of Sterling and his payment policies. The latest to feel the squeeze is Michael Olowokandi, who also is poised to be the latest Clipper to flee after his contract expires (unless he's traded beforehand.) And with the paydays of Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Lamar Odom coming up, the situation does not look good. Against that backdrop, Gentry has to produce or he's likely to join the others who preceded him. He knew that going in. Not even his relationship with Sterling favorite Larry Brown can change that. It's the L.A. Way.

	Kruger

Lon Kruger, Atlanta Hawks
Hey, it was HIS idea to offer the refund to the 12 Atlanta season ticket holders if the Hawks didn't make the playoffs. Actually, it got the Hawks some offseason pub, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And Atlanta then went out and acquired Big Dog Robinson to give them more scoring punch (if not better defense), so the playoff promise could actually be a winner. Or, Theo Ratliff could go down again, the point-guard situation could be unresolved and Robinson might find that he actually misses George Karl's rantings. But when you put yourself and your bosses' dollars on the line, it is incumbent on you to deliver. This is Kruger's third year in Atlanta and the first two have been underwhelming. The fact of the matter is that he probably would be sent packing if the Hawks again didn't make the playoffs, which is not exactly a news bulletin to the man. Meanwhile, let's hope for Kruger's sake that he hadn't decided to make DeMarr Johnson an integral part of things this season.

Sidney Lowe, Memphis Grizzlies
He falls under the category of The New Boss Is In Town. A lot of people left the Grizzlies' coaching staff, but Lowe remained. Jerry West has full control and, well, he didn't hire Lowe so there's no real bond there. Plus, Memphis might have good ribs and blues, but, well, the pro basketball team has Pau Gasol, Shane Battier and not much else. Plus, the Grizz are a lot like the Clippers and all the other non-playoff teams in the West -- they have a tough fight to crack the top eight in the Western Conference. How long does West wait? He's already on record as saying he won't tolerate another 20-something win season. (Actually, 20-something wins consistitutes a successful season by the Grizzlies' usual standards.) West's reputation as a talent scout is well documented. He also hired some pretty good coaches in Los Angeles. Lowe didn't come to town on his watch, so, by that fact alone, the coach already is under the microscope. Sooner or later, you get the feeling that Jerry is going to get his guy in there. Given the Grizzlies' history, go with the under.

	Lucas

John Lucas, Cleveland Cavaliers
He's a candidate for any number of reasons, starting with the fact that you wonder how he ever got the job in the first place. Maybe Jim Paxson, Richard Watson and the Gunds figured they'd do the media a favor and get a notebook-filler. Lucas is that. The media certainly wishes him no ill will. But, getting beyond that otherwise admirable trait, Lucas is a coach counting the days. He's got a young team going nowhere in a city that doesn't like losers. He's got to look out every home game at the site of those dozens of unfilled blue seats at Gund Arena. Look at it this way: After Alonzo Mourning's latest setback was revealed, the only thought among the Heat loyalists is -- are we still better than Cleveland? The Cavs traded their best player, the heady Andre Miller. Their center situation is always going to be tenuous because of the Royal Doulton feet of Zydrunas Ilgauskus. They have one of their starters clamoring for a trade, and they traded away one of their better players from last year, Wesley Person. Then again, maybe the irrepressible Lucas is safer than we thought. Sure, you're always going to find someone who's willing to coach the team. But try to find someone who even sees upside in DeSagana Diop.

	Chaney

Don Chaney, New York Knicks
Uh, no kidding. He takes over for Jeff Van Gundy, the team fails to make the playoffs for the first time since 1987, and then he's given a one-year extension. In most other lines of work, that is the equivalent of 'Don't Buy, Rent.' One of the inarguably good guys in the game, Chaney is in an impossible situation. Yes, the Knicks should be better this season with the addition of Antonio McDyess. But they still have no size, they're still decidedly un-athletic, and they have the Balkanized situation in upper management with all those MSG suits wanting to see playoff games. The Knicks players all welcomed Chaney last season and then basically dogged it for most of the season. The long knives are already out in the city that never sleeps. A slow or uninspiring start is the last thing Chaney needs. Then again, the Knicks can't be as bad or boring as they were last year, can they?

Peter May, who covers the NBA for the Boston Globe, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.