There are three different first year coaches that I believe have a good chance at making the post season in year one. Each of these guys are walking into dream situations with plenty of talent already on the roster.
The coach and team I immediately thought of was Billy Donovan and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder may have to worry about Kevin Durant leaving town next year but this season they’ll have him and Russell Westbrook, one of the deadliest offensive duos in the league. With big mean Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter down low the Thunder may have a nice in and out game to rely on next season.
Donovan is no slouch himself coaching 21 years at major universities (Marshall and Florida). With a record of 502-206 and back-to-back national championships at Florida Donovan has proved he has the winning touch. If Donovan can gel with this group of guys the Thunder can easily earn a top spot in the West.
The second team is lead by one of Donovan’s former players and a kid playing for his hometown. The Chicago Bulls will welcome Fred Hoiberg as their new head coach a year after giving conference champ Cleveland a run for their money in the playoffs. The Bulls are lead by ex-Gator Joakim Noah and the Chicago kid Derrick Rose. Thankfully for Hoiberg the Bulls may also be the deepest team in a weak Eastern Conference. If Doug McDermott can have a break out year you can easily see the Bulls as the top seed in the Eastern Conference (sorry Cleveland).
Hoiberg was also a successful college coach at his alma mater Iowa State. In five seasons Hoiberg lead Iowa State to a 115-56 record, as they made the NCAA tournament four times in the five years.
Finally Alvin Gentry and the New Orleans Pelicans have a good chance to see success in year one of the Gentry era. The Pelicans are stacked with players that have always had a lot of talent and potential like Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon. They’ll be led by Anthony Davis possible the best big man in the league who carried the team to a playoff appearance last season.
Gentry, unlike the prior coaches, is a veteran NBA coach with 10-plus years of NBA coaching experience. His experience can really help the young talent on the roster and help the team gel. It may be harder for this team to make the playoffs in a deep western conference but I can definitely see it happening.