Two-time NBA All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick Danny Manning could join Nate Bjorkgren's staff on the Indiana Pacers, per Marc Stein of the New York Times.
The Pacers hired Bjorkgren as their new head coach after firing Nate McMillan.
Former Wake Forest coach and NBA All-Star Danny Manning has emerged as a candidate for new coach Nate Bjorkgren's staff in Indiana, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 28, 2020
Danny Manning was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1988 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He made two All-Star teams and was the 1998 Sixth Man of the Year with the Phoenix Suns.
Manning finished his NBA career with averages of 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons.
Th 2019-20 Pacers got swept by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2020 playoffs at Walt Disney World. Indiana's roster is headlined by Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, TJ Warren, Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon.
Nate Bjorkgren has never been a head coach in the NBA, so it's a smart move to try and acquire as many basketball minds as he can on his coaching staff.
Oladipo becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2021. The Pacers tried to sign the high-flyer to a contract extension before the 2019-20 season started, but talks didn't go too far.
Bjorkgren needs to develop a solid rapport with Oladipo early on so the Pacers don't run the risk of losing the All-Star in free agency.
Follow Us
Subscribe