The Denver Nuggets need a new head coach and plenty of names have already been thrown out there, as potential candidates to fill that vacancy. A front-runner though has possibly emerged to land the position in Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw. According to a report from Sam Amick over at USA Today Sports, there are indications that Shaw is the leading candidate for Denver and the Nuggets view him as a “rising star in the coaching ranks who could help their young team grow.” Shaw seems to also be the top target of the Brooklyn Nets to fill their head coaching position, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports. The Los Angeles Clippers also have Shaw pegged as a front-runner for their head coaching vacancy and have set-up an interview with him as soon as Monday, according to ESPN.

The Nuggets have received permission from the Indiana Pacers to interview Shaw but, it seems no interview has been set yet. Shaw is one of the hottest commodities in coaching circles right now, primarily because of his championship experience as both a coach and player, as well as his ability to develop young players. The 47 year old coach, has five championship rings(three as a player, two as a assistant coach) all with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a very smart offensive coach and if hired, could implement some of the triangle offense in Denver. All in All, I think Shaw would be a fantastic hire and fit here in Denver with this current roster. Adding a young coach with championship experience in Shaw, could do wonders for a young core of players that Denver has, all oozing with potential. I don’t know what the likelihood is that Shaw ends up as the Nuggets next head coach but, one thing is for certain and that’s that Denver will have plenty of competition in acquiring Shaw’s services.

Apr 6, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) guards Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) in the second half at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

People around the league consider the Denver Nuggets’ Andre Iguodala to be one of the premiere wing defenders in the NBA. The Nuggets jumped up to the 11th best defense in his first year with the team. With Iguodala on the floor, the Nuggets defensive rating was 100.9, good enough for third in the league. With Iggy on the bench, that number rose to 105.4, per NBA.com, which would tie Denver for 13th.

First team:

• Guard, Tony Allen, Grizzlies
• Guard, Chris Paul, Clippers
• Forward, Lebron James, Heat
• Forward, Serge Ibaka, Thunder
• Center, Joakim Noah, Bulls [tie]
• Center, Tyson Chandler, Knicks [tie]

Second team:

• Guard, Mike Conley, Grizzlies
• Guard, Avery Bradley, Celtics
• Forward, Paul George, Pacers
• Forward, Tim Duncan, Spurs
• Center, Marc Gasol, Grizzlies

Denver Nuggets players who received votes:

• Andre Iguodala, Denver, 16 (2)
• Kenneth Faried, Denver, 4 (1)
• Corey Brewer, Denver, 2

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses):

Andre Iguodala, Denver, 16 (2); Larry Sanders, Milwaukee, 16 (4); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 15 (2); Luol Deng, Chicago, 11 (1); Dwight Howard, L.A. Lakers, 9 (3); Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (6 (1); Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 6 (2); Kenneth Faried, Denver, 4 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 4 (1); Shane Battier, Miami, 2; Nicolas Batum, Portland, 2 (1); Corey Brewer, Denver, 2; George Hill, Indiana, 2; Mike James, Dallas, 2 (1); Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 2, (1); Tony Parker, San Antonio, 2 (1); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2; Metta World Peace, L.A. Lakers, 2 (1); Eric Bledsoe, L.A. Clippers, 1; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia, 1; Andrei Kirilenko, Minnesota, 1; Iman Shumpert, New York, 1; David West, Indiana, 1.

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