Charles Lee is already expected to leave the Boston Celtics at the end of the season to become the new head coach of the Charlotte Hornets. Still, it appears the Celtics are facing a battle to keep their other senior assistant, Sam Cassell.
The former NBA champion has previously been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching vacancy. According to rumors, the Milwaukee Bucks are interested in adding him to Doc Rivers’ staff for next season. Cassell and Rivers previously worked with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Celtics are currently preparing for an NBA Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, so any discussions regarding Cassell’s future with the franchise will have to wait. Joe Mazzulla will undoubtedly want to keep Cassell, especially after bringing him to Boston last summer.
Jeff Van Gundy would be a potential replacement for Lee. He was with the Celtics in an advisory role this season. Still, replacing an assistant coach is hard enough. Asking Mazzulla to rebuild his coaching staff for the second summer in a row is a tall order. Especially if this coaching staff helped the franchise win its first championship in 16 years.
Boston seems a victim of its own success.
Cassell could choose to wait for a head coaching opportunity. Still, the Bucks will likely end his interest to jump ship. It’s up to the Celtics to convince Cassell that it’s better to stay put.
