Twice a year, we do a report card on the front office's latest moves...once at the beginning of the season, once after the trade deadline. It's that time of the year again and after Thursday's roller-coaster ride, it may not be a good time to assess, but we have no choice.
So here's this week's agenda: Is it better for the Nets that the entire season is cancelled? Why Bob MacKinnon? What did we learn in a Barclays Center tour? Will the Nets take a deep look at Team Russia? And speaking of Russia, what's going to happen with Prokhorov, not that we know? So come on up for the rising.
In a 30-minute talk with the team's beat writers, Avery Johnson confirmed that John Loyer, the team's highly thought of assistant, will join Lawrence Frank's staff in Detroit. Although he wouldn't confirm that P.J. Carlesimo will be joining the the Nets, he heaped praise on the former Seton Hall and Warriors coach
Rick Adelman said he wanted to take some time off after his gig with the Rockets but the lure of a young team (and as much as $25 mllion) lured him to Minnesota and he beat out Nets' assistant Sam Mitchell for the Timberwolves job. It had reported that Mitchell, along with Adelman and Don Nelson had been leading candidates.
John Loyer, who has a reputation as one of the NBA's top assistant coaches, may be headed to Detroit to work with the man who brought him to the Nets three years ago, Lawrence Frank. Colin Stephenson reports that the Nets have given Loyer permission to talk with the Pistons and a decision is expected in the next day or two.
David Kahn, the Timberwolves GM, apparently has Sam Mitchell on his short list for head coach...but would like to expand the list to include Rick Adelman, late of the Rockets. Adelman had initially indicated he wanted to take this year off but Kahn wants him to come to Minnesota for a chat and he may very well.
With interviews for the head coaching job complete in Minnesota, reports indicate that Sam Mitchell is now the favorite for the job. Avery Johnson's lead assistant interviewed for the job earlier in the week and appeared confident afterwards. The Wolves' owner, Glen Taylor, conducted the interview. He's reportedly a big Mitchell fan.
Sam Mitchell wouldn't talk much about his interview with Timberwolves front office Tuesday, but beat reporter Jerry Zgoda tweeted that the Nets lead assistant and 2007 Coach of the Year "sounded relaxed and confident" afterwards.
Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune tweets that the Timberwolves will interview Sam Mitchell for their head coaching vacancy on Friday. Larry Brown will be interviewed next week. Although Mitchell has been a fan favorite for the job, earlier reports had Minnesota GM David Kahn not very high on the Nets lead assistant.
The Timberwolves haven't finished dumping Kurt Rambis as their coach, but already speculation is on the rise over who GM David Kahn will pick as his replacement. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports Sam Mitchell, a former Timberwolve and Avery Johnson's lead assistant has to be on the list.
