NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Early Head Coach Candidates After Nate Bjorkgren’s Firing

The Indiana Pacers have become the fourth NBA team that needs a new head coach. Nate Bjorkgren is out after just one season on Indiana’s bench, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports, starting the Pacers’ second coaching search in as many years.

Bjorkgren lost the locker room, according to Wojnarowski, and Indiana plans to pivot toward an experienced candidate. Bjorkgren was an assistant with the Toronto Raptors before getting the Pacers’ job and had no previous head coaching experience.

One candidate has already emerged shortly after Bjorkgren was fired. Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported Wednesday that Indiana is expected to consider former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts.

Stotts and Portland recently parted ways in the aftermath of the team’s first-round playoff exit. Stotts was the Blazers head coach for nine seasons, making eight straight playoff appearances with one trip to the conference finals.

The Pacers might also want to take a look at another recently available coach. Steve Clifford and the Orlando Magic split as the franchise heads into a full rebuild. Clifford has been a head coach in each of the last eight seasons, leading the Magic and Charlotte Hornets to four total playoff appearances.

The most accomplished potential candidate is still coaching in the playoffs. Brooklyn Nets’ assistant Mike D’Antoni is reportedly being looked at by every team that has a head coaching vacancy.

Indiana fired head coach Nate McMillan last year, hoping to improve its offense. D’Antoni is regarded as an offensive innovator. As the Houston Rockets head coach, D’Antoni’s team had a top-two offense each year from 2017-2019.

Stotts’ Blazers were second in offensive efficiency during the 2020-21 regular season.

The Pacers finished ninth in the East with a 34-38 record, unable to advance beyond the league’s new play-in tournament. It marked the first time since 2015 that Indiana missed the playoffs.

Indiana had a .585 winning percentage or better in each of the previous three seasons.