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Tim Bontemps in a survey of open NBA head coaching jobs --a list that grew by two Thursday-- breaks down the vacancies this way -- "The NBA’s most desirable coaching jobs … and then there’s the Nets."
Despite a number of positives, Bontemps who covered the Nets until leaving for the Washington Post thinks it is the last place any head coach would want to go...
Pros: Market size, facilities, money. The fact the Nets are in New York, with a practice facility and arena both in Brooklyn, gives them a leg up on their competition – including the Knicks, who practice in Westchester. And, like with the Knicks, being in New York can be a nice selling point for plenty of free agents.
Cons: Talent, assets. Brook Lopez is a terrific player, Thaddeus Young is a solid starter and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is an intriguing rookie. Besides them, there’s not much else in Brooklyn that looks like a long-term fit. The bigger issue, though, is that Brooklyn doesn’t have a pick this year, and doesn’t control its draft pick until 2019.
More than one league source has told NetsDaily the same thing, that the road to respectability is long and prospective coaches don't want their reputation besmirched in the mean time. So much so that sources think Ime Udoka, the former journeyman who's worked with Gregg Popovich the last four years, is the leading candidate.
Udoka, like Sean Marks and Trajan Langdon, started with the Spurs the same year, 2012. His last time in an NBA players uniform was 2011 when he was cut from Nets training camp by Billy King.
Devin Kharpertian asked Nets players --at least the current ones-- what they they wanted in a coach. Almost to a man, they said they wanted someone who would push them.
Meanwhile, there are rumors of a massive shakeup in basketball operations, with several long-time Nets staffers out -- along with Tony Brown and his staff -- let go. In addition, one league source says Marks has as many as 10 new staffers lined up. Expect to hear more later Friday.