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Marc Stein is reporting that Lionel Hollins and the Nets are near a deal that would make him the Nets next head coach, replacing Jason Kidd.
Asked if it was a done deal, a league source told NetsDaily, "Not yet." Stein broke the story at around 9:30 a.m.
Nets closing in on the hiring of Lionel Hollins, ESPN has learned. Deal is expected to be completed today
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
Hollins will not come cheap, reports Stein.
Nets and Hollins are in the final stages of hammering out a multiyear deal that will pay former Grizz coach in excess of $4 million annually
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
Later, Stein and colleague Ramona Shelburne reported on the financial details...
Sides sorting final details in hopes of wrapping up Lionel Hollins' looming deal w/Nets today. Multiyear deal w/salary in $4-to-5 mil range
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
As @ESPNSteinLine reported, Nets and Lionel Hollins are in final stages of negotiations. Issues remain but deal likely 4-5 yrs at $4-5m per
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 2, 2014
That's $1.5 million more than Jason Kidd made in Brooklyn and $1 million more than he will make in Milwaukee and in line with recent deals made by the Knicks with Derek Fisher and by the Warriors with Steve Kerr.
Hollins emerged as the leading candidate in the last two days after Billy King and ownership had meetings with him on Monday night and Tuesday morning. In an interview with Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno Tuesday afternoon, King said he was meeting with ownership later Tuesday to decide if, after meeting with Hollins, there was a need for any other meetings with coaching candidates.
Stein reports that the Nets looked into signing Hollins mid-season ... to replace Lawrence Frank.
Hollins has been a favorite of Nets officials for some time and was pursued by Brooklyn to serve as an assistant to Kidd after the in-season departure of Lawrence Frank, but the former Grizzlies coach was determined to wait for a head-coaching opportunity. Hollins was also chased hard this spring by the Houston Rockets to serve as the top aide to Rockets coach Kevin McHale in the event that Hollins didn't land a top position.