Empty the Bench

For a split second, Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell was tempted to just raise his middle finger and grin at the camera. Okay, not really, but he’d certainly have grounds to. As the guy who was once voted the NBA’s worst head coach in an informal player poll, Mitchell’s redemption in the eyes of his peers was fully realized this afternoon when he was named the 2007 recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the Association’s top coach.

Though there were plenty of worthy candidates (Avery Johnson, Don Nelson, Old Man Sloan), Mitchell’s part in turning around the long-struggling Toronto franchise could not go ignored. A year after finishing with a .313 winning percentage, the Raptors made a 20-game swing to win the Atlantic Division with a 47-35 record that was good for the East’s three seed (they’re currently down to the Nets 1-0 in the first round). Naturally, his players are happy for him.

“We recognized him for it this morning, ” forward Chris Bosh said. “But the thing I love about him is he said it was a team effort.”

“From the summer, after I signed, his focus was trying to get us all in and get the chemistry going early,” guard Anthony Parker said. “Throughout the course of the season we seemed to come together pretty nicely. Sam obviously was a huge part of that.”

“He’s done a great job with the ball club,” forward Morris Peterson said Monday. “He’s really grown a lot over his first couple of years coaching. If anybody in the NBA deserves it, it’s him. He’s proved a lot of people wrong.”

Guard T.J. Ford said Mitchell puts his faith in the players. “He’s going to give us the structure offensively and defensively, but it’s up to us to go out there execute,” he said. “He puts it in our hands and lets us control it. He’s been great in that aspect.”

So, congratulations, Mr. Mitchell, on a job well done. We’re not so sure, however, whether to congratulate him on a rumor in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune, or just tell him to run far, far away from anything Indiana Pacers. With the team expected to can head coach Rick Carlisle any minute now–and with Mitchell’s contract expiring this summer–there are rumblings that Larry Bird may have a man-crush on Mitchell:

Bird declined to talk about Carlisle, though local media reports indicate he’ll be out. Around the NBA, the talk is the Pacers will come hard after Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, whose contract expires after this season. Mitchell played three seasons in Indiana, and his hard-nosed, direct style was admired by management. He’s the kind of leader they’d like to rebuild with.

And though Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo has said the right things about supporting and bringing back Mitchell, the belief is he remains uncomfortable with Mitchell, whom he did not hire. Also, it was no secret Colangelo was forceful in getting Mitchell to accept and play rookie Andrea Bargnani. There appears to be something of a power struggle going on with President Richard Peddie openly supporting Mitchell’s return, apparently to push Colangelo.

Mitchell will obviously be in high demand if Colangelo doesn’t bring him back next season. That said, the Pacers franchise is in utter disarray, and we’d hate to see the Raps coach end up in the thick of it.

Possibly Related Content:

1. Raptors Head Coach Sam Mitchell Spending Summer Looking at Andrea Bargnani’s Legs


2. When it Rains, it Pours in Seattle for Bob Hill


3. What a Difference a Day Made for… the Toronto Raptors


4. Reading is Great! Monday’s NBA Links


5. Raptors vs. Nets, Game 1: Live Updates