2023 NBA coaching tracker: All the hirings made during this year's carousel
The NBA's coaching carousel appears to be complete for the 2023 season.
The Toronto Raptors reportedly found their next head coach on Saturday, making them the last team to fill their coaching vacancy this offseason. Barring a surprise following the NBA Finals or later in the offseason, the 30 head coaches in the league for next season are likely set.
In total, there were six coaching changes this offseason. Three of those changes involved playoff teams, two of which were eliminated in the second round and the other being the Milwaukee Bucks.
There was just one major change among all NBA front offices during the carousel, too.
Here are all the head coach changes that took place in the 2023 coaching carousel.
HIRED
- The 76ers came to an agreement with former Raptors coach Nick Nurse to make him their next head coach on May 29. Nurse coached the Raptors for five seasons, helping them win the NBA title in 2019 and won Coach of the Year in 2020. After the Raptors missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons in 2023, Nurse was fired. He'll get another opportunity with a contending team though as he'll coach reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Nurse replaces Doc Rivers, who was fired after the 76ers' third consecutive second-round exit in May.
- The Pistons officially hired former Pelicans and Suns coach Monty Williams on June 2, reportedly giving him the biggest contract in NBA history. Williams heads to Detroit after going 194-115 in four seasons in Phoenix, helping the Suns reach the playoffs three times and make the NBA Finals in 2021. He was fired after their second-round playoff loss. Williams will replace Dwane Casey, who resigned from his post after five seasons but will remain with the organization.
- The Rockets agreed to terms with former Celtics coach Ime Udoka to make him their next head coach. Udoka coached the Celtics for one season before he was suspended by the team for the 2022-23 season after an investigation found he broke multiple team policies. Udoka replaces Stephen Silas, whose option for the 2023-24 season was declined by the team.
- The Bucks agreed to terms with Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin to make him the team's next head coach, ESPN reported on May 27. Griffin, who played in the NBA for nine seasons, began his coaching career with the Bucks in 2008. He's been an assistant coach for four other teams since then and was with the Raptors since 2018. His son, AJ Griffin, was drafted by the Hawks in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. Griffin replaced Mike Budenholzer, who was the Bucks' head coach for five seasons and helped them win a title in 2021 before he was fired earlier in May.
- The Suns officially hired Frank Vogel on June 6. Vogel coached the Pacers for six seasons and the Magic for two seasons before his three-year tenure with the Lakers. Vogel helped the Lakers win a title in his first season with the team in 2019-20, but he was fired following the 2021-22 season when the team missed the playoffs. He replaces Monty Williams, who coached the team for four seasons.
- Clippers general manager Michael Winger was hired to be the president of Monumental Basketball, which oversees the Wizards and the WNBA's Washington Mystics, on May 24. Winger began his tenure as the Clippers' general manager in 2017. He helped oversee the Clippers' turnaround as they reached their first Western Conference finals in team history in 2021. The Wizards fired general manager Tommy Sheppard after four seasons in April.
- The Raptors completed the coaching carousel when they reportedly came to an agreement with Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic to have him be their next head coach. Rajakovic coached overseas for 11 years before working as a coach in the G League and as an assistant in the NBA for over a decade. He replaces Nick Nurse, who was fired after five seasons.
PERSONNEL CHANGES (head coaches and general managers)
Detroit Pistons
- Dwane Casey resigned from his post as the Pistons' head coach following their regular-season finale after five seasons. The 2017-18 Coach of the Year will remain in Detroit, transitioning into a role in the team's front office.
Houston Rockets
- Stephen Silas' option for the 2023-24 season wasn't picked up, ending his tenure as the Rockets' head coach after three seasons.
Milwaukee Bucks
- Mike Budenholzer was dismissed by the team after five seasons as the Bucks' coach. Milwaukee's decision to let go of Budenholzer came a week after they were upset in the first round of the NBA playoffs despite having the best record in the league during the regular season. The Bucks finished with at least a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference in each season Budenholzer coached, including in 2021 when they won the NBA title.
Philadelphia 76ers
- Doc Rivers was fired from his position as head coach after three seasons. Rivers went 154-82 during his three seasons with the team, but never advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Phoenix Suns
- Monty Williams was fired as head coach after four seasons, which included a trip to the NBA Finals in the 2020-21 season.
Toronto Raptors
- Nick Nurse was fired by the Raptors after coaching the team for five seasons, including when they won the NBA championship in the 2018-19 season.
Washington Wizards
- Tommy Sheppard was fired from his role as the team's general manager after four seasons. Washington missed the playoffs the last two years.