Can NBA Coaches Be Traded? Yes Or No?

Can NBA Coaches Be Traded

NBA coaches can be traded for future draft picks or cash if they accept the trade, although such trades are rare. Coaches may be traded due to poor performance or if the franchise believes it is the best move for the team's success, as seen in notable cases like Doc Rivers and Jason Kidd.

NBA players can be traded for other players from the other team. They are being traded for two reasons. One is because they want to get traded, and two their franchise wants them to be out of the team. Even the recent drafts can be traded for other players in the league. But, how about NBA coaches? Can they be traded? 

Can NBA coaches be traded? Yes! NBA coaches can be traded! However, coaches must be willing to accept the trade. NBA coaches can’t be traded for active NBA players but they can be traded for future draft picks and money. Coaches that are on a bad NBA team are lucky if they get traded to another best team. 

NBA coaches’ trades rarely happen in the NBA. Most of the NBA coaches are getting fired or either resign on themselves. However, there are lots of things you can learn about this topic. We are going to check the reasons why NBA coaches leave their team and answer other questions related to our subject. Let’s go! 

Why Do NBA Coaches Get Traded?

NBA coaches get traded by their current team if their management receives a good offer from the other NBA team. Coaches that are not doing a good job may get fired or get traded by their GMs. 

NBA coaches can be traded for future draft picks or cash. They can’t be traded for another NBA player that is currently playing. Coaches must be willing to accept the trade. If they don’t accept the trade, they might get fired or just stay with their current team. 

However, this is rare to happen. If the franchise doesn’t like what the coach is doing, they are more likely to fire the NBA coach rather than trading it. 

Can NBA Coaches Be Traded

Why Do NBA Coaches Get Fired? 

Can NBA Coaches Be Traded

Coaches are essential for a basketball team. Why? Because they are the ones that make the plays. They are the reason why basketball players get motivated to play and disciplined. Coaches are the mind of a basketball team. However, if coaches are essential, why do NBA teams fire them? 

The reason why NBA coaches get fired is that their NBA team management doesn’t like the work they are doing. When an NBA team continues to lose on their games, the management of the team will start to analyze whether they should fire their coach. If they decided to fire the coach, the coach has nothing to do with that. 

This happened to the NBA many times. For example, coach David Fizdale. David Fizdale was fired by the New York Knicks after 22 games in the 2019 NBA season. Many NBA coaches got fired by an NBA team because of their negative work ethics and efforts. 

Famous Scenarios In The NBA About Coaches Getting Traded 

Like I have mentioned above, it is rare to see an NBA coach be traded to another NBA team. If you search on the internet, you will see few results about it. But don’t bother searching, because today I am going to list two memorable scenarios where NBA coaches got traded to another team. 

First, let’s take a look at the trade of Doc Rivers.

Doc Rivers Was Traded To The Los Angeles Clippers

Last 2008, the Boston Celtics formed a power team to contest the Los Angeles Lakers and other strong NBA teams. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo are the big four of the Boston Celtics during that time. Who is their coach? Doc Rivers is their coach during that time. 

We all know that Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the NBA. However, he also struggles with the Boston Celtics like any other coach. Doc Rivers helped the Boston Celtics to win a championship title in 2008. After that lucky season, their following seasons seem different from their past 2008 season. Because of this, the Celtics planned for a rebuild! 

Last 2013, the Boston Celtics traded Paul Pierce, who spent 15 years with them. Doc Rivers is also traded because he doesn’t want to be a part of the rebuilding process. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers made a deal to trade Doc Rivers for the Clippers’ first-round draft pick in 2015. 

When Doc Rivers became the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Clippers made the playoffs six times. However, they never managed to pass the semi-finals because they are always getting beaten by other stronger teams like the Golden State Warriors. 

Can NBA Coaches Be Traded

Jason Kidd Was Traded To The Milwaukee Bucks

Jason Kidd is one of the best NBA players in history. His passing ability is astounding! Kidd played for several NBA teams before he decided to become a head coach. He played for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns. 

After Jason Kidd decided to retire, he was offered a job to become the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. After he was acquired, something bothered Jason Kidd. Kidd felt that he should have been paid more by the Nets as a rookie coach. He compared his salary to Steve Kerr and Steve Nash who was also a rookie coach at that time. 

Kidd helped the Nets to acquire the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference Standings. He also helped the Nets to make it to the second round of the NBA playoffs. Everything seems all right until Jason Kidd bad-mouthed the Nets. He said that if he gives the job opportunity to become a basketball operations manager and coach, he will fire everybody on staff and rebuild. 

Jason Kidd has three years left on his contract, but the Nets didn’t let him finish his three years. Kidd was traded quickly to the Milwaukee Bucks for two second-round draft picks. The Bucks love Jason Kidd because he has a vision for the team. Kidd helped the Bucks to make the playoffs three times but didn’t manage to win a chip. 

Can NBA Coaches Be Traded

Final Verdict

NBA coaches can be traded. Teams trade them because of many reasons such as bad attitude, bad work ethics, and poor skills. If an NBA team thinks that trading their coach is the best way to rebuild or get their team back on its feet, they will most likely do it. 

NBA coaches can be traded for a draft pick or cash. They can’t be traded for a player that is playing in the NBA already. 

Source: basketballword.com

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