Denver Nuggets fire Coach of the Year George Karl
After leading the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and the 3rd seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, George Karl was named this season's NBA Coach of the Year. Today Denver decided to let go of Karl, despite one year remaining on his contract. From Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski:
Denver has parted ways with coach George Karl, league source tells Yahoo! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2013
In final year of deal, Karl was pushing for a contract extension, and ownership wasn't prepared to give it to him, source tells Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2013
Denver believes it can attract an elite coach with its roster; simply didn't want to deal with an unhappy Karl in final year of contract.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2013
In a recent Celtics Life article about Doc Rivers being the highest paid coach in the NBA, I mentioned George Karl on the short list of others possibly as deserving. Karl is the most experienced head coach in the league (24 years), and he hasn't had a losing season since 1988.
The Boston Globe's Baxter Holmes notes an eerily foreboding quote from Karl back in February:
From 2/10/13 RT @baxterholmes Karl on idea of being named COTY: "I dont want to get Coach of the Year. Coach of the Year usually gets fired"
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 6, 2013
And ESPN's Marc Stein brings up the possibility of Denver and Memphis "trading" coaches:
One source close to process says "trade" between Denver and Memphis is now conceivable where Karl takes over Grizz and Hollins joins Nuggets
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 6, 2013
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