Jan 19, 2011; Newark, NJ, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan during the first half against the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Jerry Sloan has pulled himself out of the Charlotte Bobcats coaching search.

He told his story on SI.com, and here’s a great gem I pulled out of it.

Reporters: "What do you think of these Bobcats rumors?" Harden: "The ones where they win 10 games next year? Wait... You mean they want to trade for..." Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

If the reports that the Charlotte Bobcats are looking to trade the second pick in the NBA draft for James Harden are true, things are looking good for Brian Shaw.

Shaw was a succesful player and assistant coach with the Lakers under Phil Jackson, and he’s going to impliment the triangle offense wherever he goes.

What better (possibly) availbe player is there to run that offense through than James Harden? During his time in OKC Harden has turned into an efficient decision maker; This season his true shooting percentage was 66 percent, he assisted on 19 percent of his teammates field goals while he was on the floor, and he turned the ball over just 15 times per 100 possessions.

He’s not Kobe Bryant, but he could be the Kobe in Shaw’s triangle offense.

Of course right now this is all a bunch of speculation, and the Thunder might not even want to part with Harden, but it seems like the Charlotte Bobcats are searching for a player to be the go-to-guy in one of the NBA’s most famous (and hard to master) offenses.

Mar. 12, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson (left) talks with assistant Coaches Brian Shaw (center) and injured forward Luke Walton against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

ESPN’s Chris Broussard is reporting that the Charlotte Bobcats have narrowed the search for a new coach down to Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder. As a Tar Heel alum, I know that Tar Heel Nation is immediately going to disapprove a Blue Devil coaching the Bobcats. Since Gerald Henderson and Corey Maggette are on the team roster, it makes the team look like the Charlotte Blue Devils. Tar Heels do not want that. Aside from Quin’s “dukeage,” you must evaluate what he brings to the table before you disapprove. His head coaching experience begins with coaching at the University of Missouri for seven years. He was quite successful here, leading his teams to numerous appearances to the NCAA tournament. Snyder also spent three years as a head coach for Austin Toros in the NBA Development League (also known as the NBADL and the D-League). The most impressive thing about Snyder is that he holds an MBA and JD from his alma mater, Duke University. However, I have not seen anything in his resume’ that translates to being the top candidate to coach the Bobcats. For this reason alone, I would not approve of Quin Snyder coaching the Bobcats.

I wrote a column on Jerry Sloan being a viable candidate for the Bobcats head coaching here: http://robertogato.com/2012/05/26/can-jerry-sloan-and-the-flex-offense-coexist-with-mj-and-the-charlotte-bobcats/ and http://robertogato.com/2012/05/24/who-should-be-next-coach-for-the-charlotte-bobcats/. Jerry Sloan has the resume that the Charlotte Bobcats need. Sloan is not a “yes man,” and he is well-respected around the NBA. His reputation will become the mindset of the basketball team. I’m not going to beat a dead horse. Michael Jordan, sign Jerry Sloan and that’s an order.

Brian Shaw was also a role player for the Los Angeles Lakers when they won three championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Shaw was also an assistant coach for the Lakers when they won championships in 2009 and 2010. That gives Brian Shaw five championship rings (three as a player, and two as an assistant coach). Shaw knows what it takes to win championships. This is what Shaw brings to Charlotte, and this is also his leg up on Sloan. As great as a coach Sloan is, he has not won a championship, but this does not mean that it is not possible.  Brian Shaw has experience playing in the Triangle Offense, and assisting in coaching the Triangle Offense. If Shaw can duplicate the Triangle Offense in Charlotte (and he should be), then MJ needs to take a close look at him. Although I like Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw is the long-term option for head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. MJ’s decision comes down to whether he wants a short-term fix at head coach (Sloan), or a long-term fix at head coach (Shaw). The only reason why I view Jerry Sloan as a short-term option at head coach is due to his age. I respect him very highly as a head coach. I hope that MJ treats his head coaching decision like the game-winning shot that he hit against Georgetown in 1982.