For Stefanski Time has Run ...

I suppose Stefanski could publicly announce a reversal of course, but I doubt he has the clout or job security to carry it out- much like B.K. was at the end of his rope when he announced a need for a character change and new three year plan. Do we really want Stefanki to be the one making moves that eventually lead to short term losses and his inevitable firing? Isn't it more reasonable to hand over control to a new leader now?

Lets look at some potential moves, and how E.S. making the decisions clouds the process. We can debate whether each of these moves should be made, but regardless E.S. is not the man to make the decision. He is in a compromised position to make the moves this team needs to make going forward.

Possibile Moves

1. Trade Elton Brand:
-Acquiring Brand was Stefanski's biggest move. Deciding to move him reflects badly on him. Making the painful move of sacrificing young talent just to find a taker for Brand's contract makes Stefanski look even worse.

I could see the temptation for Stefanski to bring back other big name contracts back in order to generate some buzz and short term wins in order to validate the move. But that would be bad long term. Better to suffer short term pain to clear the team fully of the long term implications of bad contracts.

2. Firing or redirecting Eddie Jordan
-Hiring Jordan was the second major move of Stefanski's tenure. More importantly, Jordan was hired with the mandate to install his schemes and win now. Firing his man so soon after inking him to a three year deal casts Stefanski in a bad light. Even more so after he fired Mo a month after rewarding him with a second contract extension.

Stefanski is also not in a strong position to direct Jordan to shift to a rebuilding mode that focuses on developing young players at the potential expense of wins. Stefanski himself lacks the job security to carry out this mandate. Can the man that just hired him legitimately tell him losing is acceptable? Jordan is left to win how he sees fit, because if you are going to lose your job you want to at least lose it coaching the way you think is right (which ironically is bad coaching.) Jordan is on the hot seat, and has been leaning on vets (AI and Green) in an attempt to salvage some wins and his jobs.

3. Evaluating/trading some of the young core
-The team needs to consider trading away some of the current young core in exchange for other prospects who better fit a long term vision that stresses defense. Stefanski is more wedded to guys like Speights and Young. he is also more likely to over-value them and is in a weaker position to make the right trades.