Brian Shaw turned down an offer to coach the Charlotte Bobcats, who currently hold the NBA’s worst record.
"I want to be in a situation where I have a chance," Shaw said. "Usually when you come into your first head coaching job, you don't get to dictate what the situation is going to be. But you want a chance and an organization that has a game plan going forward that's sustainable and where you have some pieces of value where you can put things together and get on the fast track."
Shaw also interviewed for vacant head coaching positions during the offseason with the Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic.
"I'm perceived as just a triangle guy," Shaw said. "I have conversations with Phil [Jackson] and I said, 'I thought working for you and playing for you would be my biggest asset going into interviews. Actually it's been my biggest liability.'
"We've laughed about it. He's said to me on more than one occasion, 'It's best for you to distance yourself from me and our system.' "
Shaw has spent the past two seasons as the Indiana Pacers' associate coach, partly serving as a mentor for head coach Frank Vogel.
"When he gets an opportunity," Vogel said, "he's going to be a coach of the year candidate every single year."
