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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Brooklyn Nets may hire Jason Kidd as the team's next head coach by the end of the week. Fred Kerber first reported Tuesday morning that Kidd was the leading candidate.
Nets ownership has told league associates that it wants a "fresh face," as coach, and the hiring of Kidd would give them a star quality that comes with significant risk for a franchise with a mandate to complete for championships in the short term.
He went on to say that the two sides are possibly in the midst of contract talks at this moment.
Woj also reported it's "unclear" that Nets will still interview with Brian Shaw Wednesday, but Stefan Bondy reports that the rumor is not true and the Nets are still going to meet with Shaw.
Not true. Nets still interviewing Shaw tomorrow "@hoopscritic: Sources: Jason Kidd has been offered the head coaching job with the Nets."
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) June 11, 2013
A league source confirms the Nets will interview Shaw Wednesday. In fact, Marc Stein says nothing has changed.
Nets' plans unchanged. Mikhail Prokhorov still sending private jet to bring Brian Shaw to Brooklyn tonight for interview Wednesday afternoon
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 11, 2013
But one source close to process says J-Kidd has "natural advantage" in faceoff with B-Shaw given his star power and previous history w/Nets
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 11, 2013
Woj also notes that they're looking at Lawrence Frank and Roy Rogers as possible assistant coaches. However, subsequent reports have Rogers going to Phoenix.. Later, Woj added another name to the mix of assistant coaches.
Jason Kidd's targeting elite NBA assistant Tim Grgurich to be part of his potential coaching staff in Brooklyn, league sources tell Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 11, 2013
Meanwhile, Stan Van Gundy isn’t sold on the idea of Kidd stepping off the court into the coaching ranks, Kurt Helin reports for NBC Sports. The former Heat and Magic coach was on the Amani & Eytan show on NBC Sports Radio and was no fan of this move.
“There are so many people out there who have great experience in coaching,” Van Gundy said. “To go for a guy who has never coached anywhere at any level to me is mind boggling. And, if you decide to do that as a front office guy, your job will be on the line and should be on the line if it doesn’t work out."
Another out-of-work coach disagrees.
Text message from Avery Johnson, he says Jason Kidd's hiring "would be a great move on all levels."
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) June 11, 2013
Finally, there was this tweet from T.J. Kidd. In reaction to a fan's picture of a New York Nets t-shirt with "Kidd" on the back, Kidd's son replied, "It could happen."
“@cjselitesuits: @tjkidd5 look at this-had this for 8 yrs! #FATE twitter.com/CJSELITESUITS/…” it could happen...
— TJ Kidd (@TJKidd5) June 10, 2013