Miami Heat’s Chris Quinn again name in NBA coaching carousel

MIAMI – While Miami Heat executive Udonis Haslem continues to discuss team business in his dual media role, expect no admonishment this time from Heat President Pat Riley.

Unlike previous opining on the best playing roles for the Heat’s Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, Haslem, the former team captain who this past season was named the Heat’s vice president of player development, this time is using his media platform to promote the coaching credentials of Heat assistant Chris Quinn.

Haslem said on ESPN’s NBA Today that his former Heat teammate would be a solid fit for the Los Angeles Lakers’ vacancy, with  the Sun Sentinel having confirmed that Quinn has been given permission to interview for the position.

Quinn, who just completed his 10th season on Erik Spoelstra’s staff, in previous years has been given permission to interview for heading coaching openings with the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, mentioned this year as a candidate for the Hornets opening that went to Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee.

Haslem raised Quinn’s name while discussing the candidacy of former NBA guard and current ESPN commentator JJ Redick, who co-hosts a popular podcast with Lakers forward LeBron James.

“I’m gonna go ahead and say it: If it’s JJ, it’s gonna be a cynical locker room. You’re gonna see guys that are gonna say, ‘Is coach gonna do a podcast after the game with LeBron?’ ” Haslem said on ESPN.

“You’re gonna have a cynical locker room with guys that are gonna side-eye everything that JJ says, ’cause they’re gonna wonder is it JJ’s message or LeBron’s message?”

That had Haslem moving on to the praises of Quinn, 40.

“I’m not just saying this because Chris Quinn is my guy,” Haslem said. “But Chris Quinn has relationships and coached LeBron James in Miami prior to LeBron going to the Lakers, so I know he’s a guy that LeBron respects.”

Quinn actually joined Spoelstra’s staff in the summer after James left the Heat in 2014 NBA free agency to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Now, is he a true, ‘true’ candidate?” Haslem asked. “Who knows, because we understand how this goes, you might put names out there when you already know who you’re gonna pick, but I think Chris Quinn really has an opportunity to go into that situation, some Miami Heat culture, but also sprinkled in with what they’re doing now and what LeBron likes to do.

“I think Chris Quinn might have an opportunity to go in there, have the respect of LeBron James, have the respect of the locker room.”