Pat Riley would never want to go outside of his coaching tree to hire a head coach. He reportedly likes his head coaches to run his system, which means a greater amount of power for Riley.

“He wants the Riley way preserved as much as he wants the winning,” says a league source well-connected with the dynamic between Riley and his coaches. “The players know who’s in charge, and know that Riley will never take a backseat. No one is more concerned with getting credit than him, and that doesn’t allow Erik to go outside of what [Riley] thinks is best. It’s hard to coach on eggshells.”

If the Heat were to eventually make a chance, Doc Rivers has been a frequently rumored candidate. Rivers would be seen as Riley as part of his coaching tree, though he has made his own mark with Boston.