The Nets are getting ready for the next big milestones in their big off-season--a possible Sunday meeting between the new coach and the new owner at the NBA Finals, then a press conference Tuesday to introduce Avery Johnson to the media.

That next rollout is likely to be as big a deal at the Mikhail Prokhorov event on May 19 and possibly just as dramatic.  Johnson has already exhibited a take-charge attitude: announcing the hire himself on ESPN; taking phone calls from beat writers--in which he said he'd be hiring all new assistants; and, no surprise, expressing great confidence in his former protege', Devin Harris.

In the midst of all that, Johnson said all the right things: "I’m really excited about this. I think it’s a great fit for everybody. I can’t wait to get started."  As for the idea that he wasn't Thorn's first choice (which some dispute), Johnson was philosphical: "I feel great about that, because at the end of the day everything happens for a reason."

But he reserved his most enthusiasm for his impending reunion with his Maverick point guard. "I had a young Devin Harris, who I felt that if we kept him would develop into an All-Star. That happened, but not in Dallas as I would have hoped. Yeah, Devin’s a different guy now. He knows my system. He is now capable of quarterbacking the team."

• 'It's a great fit for everybody' -- Nets coach Avery Johnson - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
• Five things you didn't know about Avery Johnson - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
• Thorn is reason Avery took Nets job - Fred Kerber - New York Post
  
• Nets reach contract agreement with Johnson - Marc J. Spears - Yahoo! Sports
• Avery: 'Sky's the limit' for Nets - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Mikhail Prokhorov and Avery Johnson to meet Sunday and discuss future of Nets - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
  
• Avery Johnson to become Nets head coach - Al Iannazzone - The Record
  
• Nets Close to Coaching Deal With Avery Johnson - Jonathan Abrams - New York Times
• Avery Johnson says he's accepted offer to coach New Jersey Nets, Devin Harris approves - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
  
• Avery Johnson agrees to be Nets new coach - Alan Hahn - New York Newsday
• Avery Johnson has verbally agreed to coach the Nets (Video) - Gary Apple - SNY
  
• Nets fans better hope Avery Johnson learned from his mistakes in Dallas - Eddie Sefko - Dallas Morning News
• Awkward Avery/Harris reunion on horizon? - Tim MacMahon - ESPN Dallas
• Smith's Blog - The Little General Is Back - Craig Smith - FOX Sports Southwest
  
• Breaking News: Avery Johnson to coach the Nets - Austin Burton - DIME
• Nets Hire Avery Johnson - Sam Amick - FanHouse