So what does it take nowadays for an NBA team to keep their coach. After the Los Angeles Clippers got rid of head coach Vinny Del Negro (see article here) after the Clips set new franchise records for wins in a season (56) and win their first ever Pacific Divison title. Then the Memphis Grizzlies are allowing head coach Lionel Hollins to speak to other teams (after the Griz made it to the Western Conference Finals). And now the reigning NBA Coach of the year, George Karl is out of a job in Denver.Karl was in the last season of his contract and was seeking an extension but the Nuggets ownership was evidently unwilling to make the commitment. League sources told Yahoo! Sports that Denver would compete with the Brooklyn Nets for the services of Hollins and Brian Shaw, currently the associate head coach with the Indian Pacers.
The Nuggets held a team option on Karl's contract after the 2013-14 season that activating would've extended his deal another three years. The organization didn't want to make the commitment and ultimately didn't want to deal with a moody Karl throughout next year, sources told Y! Sports.
The timing of his firing gives Karl a chance to get involved with other head coaching openings, including those with the Clippers, Grizzlies and possibly Nets.
Denver won 57 games and earned a third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. A key injury to forward Danilo Gallinari helped derail the Nuggets in a first-round series loss to Golden State.
After completing his ninth season with the Nuggets, Karl, 62, has 1,131 victories as an NBA head coach, including a .599 winning percentage.
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