Even with the NBA playoffs in full swing, the coaching landscape is shifting for teams in the offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder already fired Scott Brooks and hired Billy Donovan, leaving the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets as the only squads with coaching openings -- although the Chicago Bulls could be joining them soon.
A lot of this depends on how the situation between the Bulls and Tom Thibodeau shakes out. The Bulls are likely to try to leverage a draft pick from a team that wants to tab Thibodeau as its next coach. And if they do get rid of Thibodeau, which seems very likely, will they get Fred Hoiberg or Alvin Gentry to take over?
From there, it's unclear what will happen, but it's likely to speed up the coaching searches of teams with vacancies. Here's a look at the three teams currently in need of a new head coach:
The Pelicans and Thibodeau
The Pelicans are the most desired coaching vacancy. Anthony Davis will do that to a franchise. The young megastar is fresh off his first trip to the playoffs, and the team is hoping to make an even bigger jump next season.
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the Pelicans fired Monty Williams after the coach took the team to the postseason with hopes of possibly signing on Thibodeau. Berger notes that Pelicans general manager Dell Demps would sign another coach is "highly regarded, defensive-minded and headstrong."
Berger even brings up one surprise name in the Pelicans' search: Tom Izzo. Former Detroit Pistons executive Joe Dumars has been advising the Pelicans for the past few months, and if he assumes a larger role, Izzo would be a target of Dumars. But it's unlikely Izzo leaves Michigan State, according to Berger. Although the Cleveland Cavaliers almost lured Izzo to the NBA in 2010, he decided to stay at MSU. Fresh off his seventh trip to the Final Four, it's more probable that Izzo is sticking around in East Lansing.
Coaching Vacancies
Magic moving slowly
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan has kept his lips sealed about his coaching vacancy. James Borrego served as interim coach after Jacque Vaughn was fired in February, but he lacks the experience the team is reportedly looking for in a head coach. The young team is full of talent with Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton and looks ready to make a playoff push in the East with the right leader on the sidelines.
Former Thunder coach Scott Brooks is a name that comes up, especially since Hennigan worked with Brooks during his stint as an assistant GM in Oklahoma City. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says that the Magic have had no contact with Brooks yet, though.
The Magic can't be counted out for Thibodeau, either. However, as Zach Lowe of Grantland notes, Thibodeau is close with Stan Van Gundy, who had a rough outing with the Magic.
This is all speculation so far. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic haven't reached out to potential candidates yet.
Are the Nuggets standing pat?
The Nuggets are in rebuilding mode. After firing Brian Shaw following a 20-39 start to the season, assistant coach Melvin Hunt took charge of the team as interim head coach -- and he did a pretty good job. Chris Broussard of ESPN thinks Hunt is coming back after the Nuggets finished the season on the upswing, going 10-13 under Hunt. Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly is intent on giving his team a new core, and while Hunt wouldn't be new, he brought a successful, winning attitude to the Nuggets in the final 23 games of the season.
Under Shaw, the Nuggets were counting down the weeks left in the season, breaking a huddle with, "1, 2, 3 ... six weeks!" Hunt took a team that had all but given up and got them to play hard, which can make a big difference in the NBA.
Follow the team blogs The Bird Writes, Orlando Pinstriped Post and Denver Stiffs for coaching rumors all offseason.