This week, we try to wrap our heads around the concept of "Coach Kidd," devoting most of the Off-Season Report to his hiring, particularly the rift between pundits and players on Kidd's elevation. One group is skeptical, the other ecstatic.
Milton Lee, who began working with Mikhail Prokhorov's team in the early days of the Russian's interest in the Nets, is being pursued by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies asked and received the Nets permission to talk with Lee, reports Sam Amick.
For those concerned the Nets won't have a coach in place for draft discussions, the team still has another two weeks before they bring in prospects for individual workouts.
We look at what's going on with the coaching search, post some draft notes, peer into the future of commuting from Manhattan and New Jersey to Brooklyn, examine how the Nets are aggressively marketing the Islanders and review the Emory College thing.
The D-League Showcase takes place this week in Reno, with all 16 development league teams playing four games a day over four days. It's a chance for NBA execs to scout the top prospects in one place. Milton Lee, Armor GM, was interviewed by NBA TV.
The Armor drafted Tim Ohlbrecht, a 6'11" member of Germany's national team, with the 14th pick of the D-League Draft. Ohlbrecht, 24, has played for German professional teams for years. He's seen as a skilled player with a good touch and athleticism.
Saturday morning, a group of professional basketball hopefuls gathered at PNY Center for the Springfield Armor open tryouts. WIth Milton Lee, Bob MacKinnon and Chris Carrawell watching, more than 100 players went through conditioning drills and more.
The Springfield Armor will hold open tryouts on Saturday, September 22, at the PNY Center in East Rutherford, NJ, and on Sunday, October 21, at Springfield College in Springfield, MA.
The Nets released their first image of the home team locker room at Barclays Center during a basketball operations staff tour of the Brooklyn construction site. The lockers are in, but the thick pile rug and other amenities still must be installed.
Documents made part of the Nets application for liquor licenses at Barclays Center show that Jay-Z is now a director of the arena and suggests a larger role as well for Milton Lee in the Mikhail Prokhorov company that owns the Nets.
