While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra ripped the Indiana Pacers for firing Nate McMillan after giving him an extension just two weeks ago.
The Heat swept the Pacers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs. Indiana, though, was playing without All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis and star shooting guard Victor Oladipo still wasn't himself after missing the majority of the season recovering from his gruesome knee injury.
Spoelstra went off on the Pacers, saying the organization looks bad for giving McMillan a “fake extension” and then firing him:
Erik Spoelstra on the firing of Nate McMillan: "It seems totally ridiculous."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) August 26, 2020
He called the Pacers extending Nate's deal two weeks ago a "fake extension to appease whoever they need to appease. … We have incredible respect for Nate."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) August 26, 2020
The Pacers were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2019 playoffs as well. However, they were without Oladipo, who was playing like one of the best players in the league before he got hurt.
Some people in the league would have liked to see Nate McMillan get a chance to coach a healthy Pacers team, but Indiana's front office clearly had other ideas. While Erik Spoelstra understands the nature of the coaching business, it appears he doesn't respect the Pacers' decision to give McMillan an extension and then effectively retract it by firing him.
Nate McMillan went 183-136 with Indiana in the regular season and 3-16 in the playoffs. His best run was in 2018 when the team took LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round.
The Pacers are reportedly interested in going after Mike D'Antoni if he doesn't stay with the Houston Rockets. Oladipo's status with the franchise is also something to monitor. There have been rumblings about him going elsewhere in the near future.
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