3 words – Jeff Van Gundy.

Any man that is willing to latch onto Alonzo Mourning’s leg during a playoff fight is the right man for the job. Plus, he’s a good defensive-minded coach with a proven track record.

0k…..
I hope this franchise is not going to be a fail.

he would be a GREAT choice!!!!

@ MrT – We already have one cross-dressing ex-Knick (Marv Albert) and don’t need another.

george carl knows how to coach…

JVG…any coach who would quit on his team midway through a season and loves the half court game is a perfect match for the Nets.

Bring in Christain Laettner as head coach. He understands team play along with knowing how to coach towards victories and championships.
One important factor, he did learn as a player the big picture along with the understanding of winning under a pretty good coach. Can We Say Coach K!
Coach Laettner sounds good to me becuase he is only in his fortys and is young enough to relate better also to today’s players. Communication is more important today then ever, because of the money thrown around in this league.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar would be my other choice only if his health is good enough for him to coach.
Always the best to Kareem and good health.
Can you imagine Kareem teaching B.Lopez a version of the Sky Hook.

George Karl is a headcase going nowhere.
The game and today’s players have passed him by.
He looks like and old man along with acting like a child at times.
Ask yourself, does this work with today’s players?
I really don’t think so.

GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

Karl would be a good choice as wood Jeff van Gundy. I think Tom Izzo or Rick Pitino could really be outstanding choices out of the college ranks. But back to reality folks, we are probably going to get stuck with a European coaching staff.

Totally different topic…….The Draft…..

This is not a splashy name, not a 1st round pick – but a guy that could make a lot of sense for the Nets as a value pick – when you are looking to rebuild your team, get younger, get more athletic, add some toughness and muscle down low, and sticking with the versatility mantra..

This guy has always been overlooked since he was one of the stud freshman with Kevin Durant at Texas. Damion James. He is only 6’7’’ (and probably more likely 6’5’’ in socks) but is a physical specimen who has had tremendous success at the 4 and 5 in college and has begun to really improve his perimeter game. I remember watching him play at the Garden in Coaches vs Cancer his freshman season – and I liked him more than Durant. He was built like a truck and just was everywhere on the floor. He has starred for the past 2 years and is your classic tweener. He reminds me of a Paul Millsap, Charles Barkley, Leon Powe type of guy.

Anyway – because of his size and tweener status – he is not going to sniff the 1st round and will be a mid second round pick. This is the type of guy who if you add to a core is going to be a nice rotation player off the bench who will ALWAYS contribute when on the floor. We need some tough players and guys who will always make an impact. We need a guy like Damion James.

I do not suggest taking him with our 2nd round pick – as his range is probably more in the 42-52 range. BUT I wonder if there are any teams looking like a 5-8 seed (or in the 9-10 range at the moment looking for some added help) who would trade their 2nd rounder for Najera. This guy has ZERO value on the Nets, but might provide something on a playoff team. And really – for most teams – those mid 2nd round picks are typically spent on a European lottery ticket who is never seen or heard from again. Something to think about…

No retreads. Be bold. Messina. Keep Del Harris by his side to help the transition.

The only question is whether this happens sooner (end of this season to send a clear message about the future of NETS playing sytle to free agents) or later (next season after the team is settled a little to avoid that Messina gets off to a horrible start – which fits the 2011 limit expectations approach).

essere audace!

@Ryan243 Says:

Oh Ryan you just turn on the TV and watched the kid for the first time.
Yes he is good however, think big and get back to the best two PF’s that could come out.
Think Big Only Ryan.
G.Monroe and D.Favors.
Oh did you watch E.Davis from UNC in the game?
Good college player but is soft when he plays agaisnt guys like James of Texas.
He got pushed around because he is soft.
Well in the NBA there is no room for soft PF’s
Can you say, J.Boone/YiJianlian

Your getting it right?

GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

Christian Laettner? Is that a JOKE? If so, it’s quite funny. The guy is out of basketball. He is in real estate and not doing that well.

We have a lot of young players who need to be taught how to play the game “The right way”. We need a teacher. I would love to have Hubie Brown, but he’s too old now. but Mike Fratello would the next best choice. He wants to get back into coaching and can really teach basketball. Have you seen this guy explain the game on NBA TV. My 10 year old can follow those instructions. And he wants the Job.. GET MIKE FRATELLO

I agree with Barry. Mike Fratello is the right man for the job. There are quite a few posters on this site in the Fratello camp. He has been talking about coaching more and more on YES this season I have noticed. Plus he is probably the most familiar person with the Nets roster, front office and any behind the scenes happenings than anyone else in basketball (not employed by the Nets).

Christian Laettner could at least hold team bonding tattoo parties. Isn’t he fully sleeved up these days?

@ Dziedzic

Laettner hasn’t been in the NBA in years….

why would Karl leave a great team with upside and a future for this mess? What is the draw here? Melo over Harris, KMart and Nene over Lopez and whoever (please not Yi), JR over Lee. What would attract him here?

No personal attacks, I know – but how his he supposed to be taken seriously after that post?

18 posts and no Mike Brown mention??? I kid, I kid… And another overused phrase on the posts here… “The great Red Aurbach couldn’t coach this team to a win, what’s the difference?” hire Karl, promote Del Harris, bring in an Italian coach, let the lucky fan in section 127, row 9 seat 3 (any season ticket holders here I just named?), doesn’t matter… BRING IN PLAYERS WITH THE ABILITY TO WIN WHEN PUT OM THE FLOOR TOGETHER. That’s the real concern here.

Here are the three people I would most like to see coaching the Nets next year:

George Karl
Reggie Miller
Mike Brown

in that order with Rick Pitino as my fourth choice.

No thanks to Karl. In any case, that is the purest of speculation. The guy has no sources, no inside information, nothing. NJ is going to be the favorite place to predict that every unhappy coach/player/head cheerleader/janitor’s assistant (what you don’t like how I clean the toilet? I’m heading to the Nets!) will end up next year.

I can live with Fratello. He does like to coach young guys, and we have plenty of them. I’m sure he would focus on defense, which is essential. I just wonder if he could make us a championship contender, not just a perennial playoff hopefull.

And he’s from Jersey, which doesn’t hurt either. I can’t support Karl as head coach, even if he has ties to Kiki. I have never liked him as a head coach.

Kiki, then Karl, then Melo. Wd not be surprised if that is something they have all thought through. If LBJ does not come to MSG, then, there is a big hole in NYC hoops fame and Melo can fill it. Where he is now, Denver, he is not going any farther media wise.

Wall/ Melo/ Lopez a good trio come 2011.

Fratello could be a good assistant next to a young new head coach.
He loves himself to much to take that position.
So leave him off the list.

I am so sick of the NBA and its coaching carousel. Its like once you get in the door you never are without a job no matter how badly you do unless you are a Black coach. Karl has been in this league for years and hasnt won a title yet. His teams always self destruct and he is a major drama queen. Look at milwaulkee and seattle. He left those cities smoldering.

There is another Phil Jackson or Red auerbach out there some owner/GM has to be brave and take chances.

Lets sit back and see how long it takes for Elie,Ewing,Askins,Shaw,jabbar and others to get a chance.

@ superb – don’t be ridiculous – that is the nature of the business.

Stop it with the re-treads and and inexperienced. The perfect coach for this team would be Bill Laimbeer. The man has won championships in the WNBA. He must be getting black-balled or something because he is hardly ever mentioned as a serious coaching candidate.

@ Eugene – Coaching in the WNBA is totally different from coaching in the NBA.

I agree with Superb. I understand it’s the nature of the beast, but that does not exclude how these guys always have a job no matter how poorly they perform or if they’ve never won anything of consequence. Karl has won a lot of games because he’s been entrenched for so long. GMs and owners have to give new coaches time to develop (4-5 years) then decide whether to fish or cut bait.

And I definitely agree about black coaches. For a league that is so heavily dominated by players of African-American descent, there is an absolute paucity of similar representation on the sidelines. 7 out of 30 is pathetic.

There are some great candidates to fill this job next year.
MFratello – announces games, wants the job, great teacher and winner
JVG – One word DEFENSE, imagin JVG Ewing and Jackson on the bench!
Karl – knows how to win, but not the BIG game.
AJohnson – can he coach without Dirk?

All of these coaches are motivators, this team will lose half of its roster this summer.so the coach may be able to lure players to playing in NJ

Not interested in Karl, i would like Messina. Don’t know anything about him except what Netsdaily had posted, that is why i favor him because of unknown, JVG’s defensive scheme is to slow down the game, I would really like to hire Rick Adelman his squad stinks but know one even knows that because they are playing at a very high level. We didnt move to hire him when he was available is my one red point against Thorn, Rick might have turned us down but he was the guy the team needed.

Other than him it is better to go look outside. Karl is a locker room -ve if things dont go well, he did well with Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver but had a pathetic display at the World Championships that has left a very bad impression. He played power politics in Denver that is something we need to avoid, let thorn do his job.

If SVG was available I like him but wont mind Mark Jackson however he is too much of an unknown.

Don’t agree mike brown is a good coach yet, he is a good defensive coach but not sure about anything else also he will not be available Cleaveland is not going to release him not when James is in his last year so that is waste of time.

Funny, but LFrank is the best coach that is not coaching , except JVG.

jVG wouldn’t come out of retirement for the Knicks and his boy Dolan, no chance he’d do it to coach for the Nets. Also, Karl will stay in Denver. It’s not a matter of who would Proky hire, it’s a matter of who would come as well. Remember what Phil Jackson said about Njs appeal?

Here are the three people I would most to like see coaching the Nets next year given all the new information:

Mike Fratello
Reggie Miller
Sam Mitchell

with Byron Scott as my fourth choice.

@Eugene

Thats my choice also. Bill laimbeer and Rick Mahorn assistant coach. I would love to see that. They have a ton of respect in this league and seem to get the best out of their players. They had women playing hard and loving them and listening and learning.

We shouldn’t be talking coach until “after” the trade deadline. Lets not distract attention from the need to make a deal (more later)

The problem with the Nets is not the Coach but the players – especially the worst Big Men (4/5) in recent NBA history.
Can we please have a Blog about the worst Big Men squads in NBA history?

6/7 suck (obviously BLopez is an Allstar, then Yi is borderline NBA, and then the rest wouldn’t be playing on most teams – Boone > SWat > Najera > Simmons and Battie (ranked in order.) What is Battie’s prognosis anyway?

I actually rank SWat ahead of the last 3 because at least he has potential and is good at some aspect of game.

However, if you want to talk coaches, at least Avery Johnson should get an interview to see if he has learned anything these past 2 years. He would certainly get Devin to play defense again, even if he didn’t like it.

Johnson wouldn’t let the players ease up at any time.

I think if he blows out the hole front office he’ll go for the biggest name he can get be it pro or other but only if the hole front office is out

Van Gundy….Thats who i’d want

All i want for Christmas: BMW and JVG

I think Mark Jackson would be the best choice, paired with a strong Xs & Os assistant coach & staff. I know he really wants a shot at coaching. He’s an outer boroughs guy (good for Brooklyn), well respected and quite the character (would immediately be the best post-game listen).

Nobody is interested in Mark Jackson? That’s who I want. He’ll be an elite nba coach. Understands the game and the player mentality.

Or maybe Prokhorov throws $15 mil/yr at Phil Jackson…

I hope Jackson leaves the Lakers next year. He would help our team tremendously.

I also like Mark Jackson as my first choice, but my second choice would be Mike Fratello. Mike has been analyzing this team through his commentary and I wouldn’t be surprised if he already devised a scheme to utlize every players strengths and minimize thier weaknesses. Mark would be a great coach because he see’s the game at level that is rarely matched. Being that he is the 3rd alltime assist leader. That experience along with his years at being a commentator should work well for him. Mark is also from Brooklyn (I think)

Not interested in most of the guys coaching other teams in the league (with the exception of the few we’d have no chance of landing like D’Antoni, Jackson, Popovich, Adelman). There are so many guys who just bounce from job to job, never winning anything and no new blood comes in until one of these old geezers decides to retire. Kiki is clueless and I’ve never been a big fan of Del Harris. I say bring in someone fresh and new, or just keep it in-house and give the job to the Czar.

Ok i am a mark jackson fan also. He seems to be able to communicate with the players and they genuinely respect him. However you cannot deny that Laimbeer has a better pedigree and is going about it the right way. He is assistant coaching and working his way up. Also laimbeer coached the wnba which is more x’s and o’s than the nba due to the lack of sheer athletes in the league. More skill and basics in the wnba.

All he would need to bring along is a shooting coach and Mahorn.

@ superb – Reggie Miller please.

I dont thnk reggie miller wants to coach. He seems content to be a tv analyst. He also doesnt have any rings. I would like our coach to be able to pull up video of him winning and showing how he did it.

I’d say Avery Johnson. I like his style and intensity. I always say it’s more about the talent than coach anyway. But Avery has a good track record. He knows his stuff and given the right pieces he would be a perfect fit.

@ superb – you NEVER know with Reggie Miller.

he seems like a good coach, almost got to the finals if werent by L.A last year…

anyway its a good step to rebuild this crumbled team

LOL @ kiki fans and the idea he will take us back on track, or at least give us a more decent record!!!

10-72 90% sure we are going for this

15-67 10% we can reach it but we wont win a single game above

@ mr. omG – I agree with you on this one.

totally forgot about laimbeer. i actually thought the pistons should’ve hired him this summer instead of kuester.

The G.M. will probably pick the coach. Who should the G.M. be?

Thorn?

Maybe…

I agree with Eugene…..I’ve been preaching this for a while now…He will intimidate the Referees…..

If any of you actually knew Bill Laimbeer, you wouldn;t want him as your coach and you wouldn’t be able to root for him. There is a reason he can’t get a head coaching job in this league, not even from the Pistons. One of the worst people ever associated with the league. He doesn’t just play a bad guy on tv.

Isaac i have never heard anything bad about laimbeer from people associated with the nba. EVER.

Karl good be a great choice. I like Mike Fratello a lot too. Please no Euro coaches!

@diehard,
You are right the WNBA and NBA are different. Women play more fundamentally sound basketball. They play with better team work and rely less on individual athletic ability.