Simple, would we rather have Lavin and Sampson or Mullin, Slice, Matty, Sima, Williams, Owens(16) and budding relationship with Rawle? I know i which one i would choose.
I think I'd take Sampson plus whoever else Lavin would bring in, instead of Sima and Williams. Sima is only a three star. And Owens is good but Lavin could have brought in someone like him easily. 51st rated juco; not a big deal. Sampson is a big deal two and done recruit. Very hard to get guys like that. Then release Lavin and bring in Mullin.
The truth with Mullin is he saw the writing on the wall in Sacramento. He was on the outs with the owner who wanted him to coach the team. He was reassigned and saw the writing on the wall. Basically, he was run out of there. Louie has always wanted his boy in there and he may lack for objectivity here.
Don't get me wrong, I love Chris Mullin, but I would have preferred that they waited a year so Lavin could recruit. Then he'd have a more talented roster to coach.
Mark Jackson's also out there. He has experience, a real coaches personality, and he is a minister with his own church and congregation. If you read Boeheim's book "Bleeding Orange" he says you recruit the mothers. Who better to recruit the mothers of high school basketball players then a Protestant Christian preacher man? Who also happens to be a top basketball alumnus and the second leading assist man in NBA history!