By Walter Dubowec

The biggest issue facing Bryan Colangelo may be his determination as to what really is the date on Sam’s Mitchell’s ‘best before’ label.

It seems that NBA coaches have a smaller and smaller window than ever as to how long they can effectively coach and motivate a group of multi-millionaire basketball players before their pleas fall on deaf ears.

Has Sam Mitchell done a solid job of motivating the Toronto Raptors, even through back to back dismal 27 win seasons? Yes. Have young players like Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani improved under his watch? Yes. Does Sam have the respect of the Raptor players? Yes.

None of this may matter to Colangelo as he decides the length of the contract he offers to Sam Mitchell. The issue is not necessarily one of ‘will Sam do another solid coaching job next season?’ Again, the answer is likely ‘Yes’. 

                                       

However, it is how the team responds to Sam the coach in years two, three and four that matters. Therein, lies the real concern for Bryan Colangelo. While Sam’s approach towards the team may be just what the doctor ordered at this point in the team’s development, there is no guarantee they will respond as well in say 2010 or 2011.

Outside of Jackson, Popovich and Sloan, there are very few coaches who have the ability to get the most of their teams on a consistent, year after year basis. Will the reigning NBA Coach of the Year join that elite aforementioned group? That’s the question Colangelo needs to answer.

Sam has been a very solid, if not great coach for the Raptors. ‘Give him some talent’ his supporters said and ‘you’ll see what he can do’. This year with a solid group of players, Mitchell coached the Raptors to 47 wins and an Atlantic Division crown, to boot.

However, can Sam sustain this level of success and become the coach who can take the Raptors over the top?

Colangelo’s dilemma is that he will potentially be making Sam his coach for the next four years. If Sam flounders after a year or two, it may not be easy for Bryan to tell the MLSE Board that Sam needs to be fired. Basically, Bryan would be admitting to making a mistake. For that reason, the GM is being very careful and that may be the reason for  the reported decision to make Sam a reasonable and fair offer, but not try to lure him back at any cost.

My feeling is that some team like Orlando, Indiana or even Houston will decide to overpay Sam Mitchell to move to their town and Sam would be hard-pressed to turn down a contract with more money and more years than the Raptors will offer.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility to see Sam and Bryan amicably part ways in a few weeks. Colangelo might be very happy to not need to worry about whether Sam is approaching his coach’s version on an ‘Expiry Date’ with the Raptor players and Sam will be a very rich coach with a new set of challenges in front of him.

 The proverbial ‘win/win’, you might say.