8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Are the Indiana Pacers going to extend Nate McMillan’s contract?

By Ben Gibson

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers speaks during the post-game press conference after Game Seven of Round One against the Cleveland Cavaliers of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers speaks during the post-game press conference after Game Seven of Round One against the Cleveland Cavaliers of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Adrian Wojnarowski hinted that the Indiana Pacers are considering extending the contract of coach Nate McMillan.

When Adrian Wojnarowski speaks, the NBA world listens. When Adrian Wojnarowski says the Indiana Pacers should consider extending the contract of Nate McMillan, we’re all ears.

This would be the last year of McMillan’s contract.

On the surface, all Wojnarowski did was mention that the Pacers should consider the idea of keeping McMillan around beyond next season, but with Woj, you have to wonder about context and what he might be hinting at.

But first, let’s watch the sound bite in question.

“I think at some point this offseason, you start to talk to Nate McMillan about a contract extension,” Wojnarowski said. “They’ve found stability in him, and he was every bit a coach of the year candidate this season.”

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds

Again, word for word, that’s just an obvious suggestion. But Woj isn’t just another reporter tracking down scoops. He’s an information broker. Depending on how you see him, he is either someone who knows how to get this information even if he ends up pushing certain narratives or someone who slept through their journalism ethics class.

But however you feel about his work, he has his pulse on nearly every aspect of the NBA. I wouldn’t overthink these comments, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear negotiations were underway, either.

This is PURELY speculation, but perhaps McMillan’s agent is wanting to put the pressure on to get it down now. If Indiana underachieves next season, there is no guarantee that the Pacers would keep McMillan around.

But Indiana would be wise to keep him around a few more years to develop the team’s young core.

McMillan displayed his talents for player development last season, as well as his time with the Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers. For a young team like the Pacers, he is a great coach to have.

He does have flaws, as sometimes his decisions to leave players on the court flummox fans and bloggers alike, but with the way the Pacers overachieved last season, it’s impossible to think about moving on from him after a 48-win season.

Not to mention, we often get infatuated with the Mystery Box. Are there better coaches than McMillan? Sure, but they aren’t a dime a dozen. McMillan is a good coach and if you think throwing any coach into the Pacers locker room would produce similar results, you might be mistaken.

Next: Are you ready to get Oladipoized?

We’ll have to wait to find out what the plans of the Pacers are, but the most likely outcome is an extension for Nate McMillan.

Home/Pacers News