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Pablo Prigioni, who developed a solid reputation first as a player and locker room presence in Argentina and Spain, then the NBA, has been seen hanging out at HSS Training Center and at Nets games in the last week.
Random visitor at #Nets practice: Pablo Prigioni.
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) February 9, 2018
Our own Bryan Fonseca saw Prigioni at the Brooklyn practice facility as well and Anthony Puccio noticed him at both the Pelicans game Saturday and the Clippers game Monday. The Nets aren’t trying to hide him.
So what’s up? Marc Berman, Lewis’ colleague, speculates Monday that Prigioni may have a future development role, working with young guards, in either the Nets or the Knicks organizations. Both teams have a number of them. Prigioni tried head coaching earlier in Spain this season, but after a 2-6 start, he resigned. He realized it wasn’t for him.
Here’s what Berman wrote...
Prigioni is in New York this week after being invited by the Nets to spend a week with them. According to a source, he’s learning all phases of Brooklyn’s basketball operation.
It’s unclear if the Nets have interest in hiring Prigioni. They also have three intriguing point guards in D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, and the injured Jeremy Lin. One source said Prigioni is “exploring” whether he has a desire to be a personnel man.
Brian Lewis reports that Prigioni and Kenny Atkinson have known each other for years through European basketball and Basketball Without Borders.
Indeed, NBA teams often have visitors in. It’s a courtesy afforded former NBA players, coaches and executives as well as international types who might have ambitions ... or might just want to see how other teams do things. For example, the Nets have had two international coaches at HSS during each of the last two summers helping out with summer league development. They haven’t hired any of the four.
Is it possible the Nets might have an interest in the 40-year-old Argentine down the road? It’s possible, but those decisions are often made in the summer, not mid-season.
- Knicks may bring back familiar face to mentor young guards - Marc Berman - New York Post