Pat Riley To Decide Coaching Future

Look for a decision to be made very soon about Pat Riley's coaching plans.

Reports are that even as early as this weekend a decision will be made about whether or not Pat Riley will return to the bench next season. He hasn't made that decision public yet, but one could make arguments either way.

Would Riley come back to reclaim his status among the NBA coaching elite after such a horrible season? Did all the losses scare him off or make him hunger once again to prove himself?

Or will he feel sated by the Hall of Fame induction and feel less inclined to grind through another NBA season as its coach?

Watch for his announcement to be made very soon if indeed there will be a coaching change. Why? Because he will have to hire someone on as coach and the big names, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Carlisle, may be gone if the Heat wait too long. There is, of course, the option of promoting from within but Riley's heir apparent is Erik Spoelstra, yet it isn't clear if Riley is ready to turn the reigns over to a young coach who will have to reshape and rebuild this team into a playoff contender. There is added pressure to achieve a turnaround because of Wade's contract status in 2010 - which will enable him to be a free agent.