Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat assistant coach Craig leaves for job with Clippers
For the second time in as many offseasons, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will be altering his coaching staff, with an NBA source confirming Monday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that assistant Dan Craig will be joining Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Craig, 38, who had filled in for Spoelstra when the Heat coach left in recent seasons for the births of his two sons, has spent the past 17 seasons with the Heat, including the past four alongside Spoelstra.
Among the leading candidates for Craig’s spot are former
Heat video coordinator Eric Glass, who coached the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this past season, and former Heat guard Anthony Carter, who was listed as a Heat player development coach the past two seasons.
There also is the possibility of the Heat transitioning veteran power forward Udonis Haslem into a coaching role, although Haslem has yet to address retirement, and in recent years has spoken of a preference for an eventual front-office role instead of a coaching position.
Both Glass and Carter were among those who assisted Spoelstra during the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals in the league’s quarantine setting at Disney
World this simmer.
Prior to this past season, former Heat forward Malik Allen was brought in as a Spoelstra assistant after former Spoelstra assistant Juwan Howard left to become coach at the University of Michigan.
With Craig’s departure, Chris Quinn, who has taken on added responsibilities in recent seasons, would set up as the Heat’s lead assistant coach.
In addition to Craig, Quinn and Allen, Octavio De La Grana also served as a Spoelstra assistant, with shooting specialist Rob Fodor also listed as part of the coaching staff.
NBA teams are limited to three assistants on the courtside bench on game nights, with
Craig, Quinn and Allen filling those roles this past season.
Craig had been linked to several coaching vacancies in recent seasons, including the Indiana Pacers job that recently went to former Toronto Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren, as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s ongoing vacancy.
Former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson also has been linked to Lue’s new Clippers coaching staff, as has former NBA guard Chauncey Billups and veteran NBA coach Larry Drew.
Lue this past month was named Clippers coaching replacement for Doc Rivers, who has taken over as Philadelphia 76ers coach after his Los Angeles dismissal.