ESPN: Brooklyn Nets "targeting" Pacers assistant Brian Shaw

A number of signs Tuesday afternoon that Brian Shaw, the Pacers assistant, is moving the Nets list of coaching candidates.

ESPN Sports Center tweeted just before 1 p.m. that Shaw is the front-runner.

The Nets are targeting Pacers assistant Brian Shaw to be their new head coach according to ESPN sources and multiple reports.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2013

Both Chris Broussard and Marc Stein report the Nets will soon ask permission to talk with Shaw now that the Pacers season is over.

. @espnsteinline and @chris_broussard report that Shaw is a serious target for the #Nets; expected to request permission to interview him.

— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) June 4, 2013

Indeed, the Pacers are starting to field requests from teams to interview Indiana's assistant coach, the veteran Pacer beat writer, reports. He tweeted Tuesday morning says that both the Nets and Clippers are among those most interested. The 76ers and Pistons are also seen as possible destinations for the 47-year-old Shaw.

Wells did note in a tweet that Billy King has done research on Shaw.

Frank Vogel may need a new lead assistant cause Nets GM Billy King has done a lot of background checking on Brian Shaw, according to sources

— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNBA) June 4, 2013

Still, Wells notes the Clippers have actually moved.

Shaw sweepstake officially started last night. As @ba_turner reported last wk, the Clips reached out to Shaw's rep to see if he's interested

— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNBA) June 4, 2013

Pacers GM Donnie Walsh has said that he would let Shaw talk to other teams once the season ended.

Meanwhile, Jeff Van Gundy told Tim Bontemps that as long as Chris Paul re-signs, the L.A. job is the better,

Asked JVG whether Nets or Clips is better job. Said Clippers, assuming Paul re-signs, have deeper talent base, but praised Nets ownership.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 4, 2013

JVG, perhaps trying to keep his name in the mix, praised the the Nets in general and Deron Williams in particular.

Van Gundy is again very complimentary both of the Nets job in general and Deron Williams specifically.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 4, 2013

Finally, Danile Labanti, hoops writer for Corriere di Bologna, quotes sources that Ettore Messina, head coach of CSKA Moscow, is talking to an NBA team. Messina coached CSKA to two Euroleague titles under Mikhail Prokhorov's ownership. Labanti previously reported that Prokhorov approached Messina about the Nets job last month.

turkish sources told 'ettore messina is in talks with #nba teams'. if he signs in the nba he will not coach the turkish national team

— Daniele Labanti™ (@DL_corriere) June 4, 2013

When will it all end? No one is saying publicly, but one has to assume with Draft workouts beginning on June 11, the Nets would like to get things done in the next couple of weeks so that the new coach can participate in the Draft War Room on June 27.

• Brian Shaw serious target for Brooklyn Nets job -- sources - Chris Broussard & Marc Stein - ESPN
• Sources: Nets interested in Brian Shaw - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York