The Brooklyn Nets fired Avery Johnson after he won Coach of the Month for November in the Eastern Conference and let interim coach P.J. Carlesimo go after the team was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in seven games by the Chicago Bulls. The Nets have been linked to interest in Lionel Hollins, Brian Shaw, Phil Jackson, and just about any other hot coaching name out there.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that Jason Kidd, fresh off retirement after 19 seasons in the NBA, is the leading candidate for the Nets coaching job. Kidd expressed interest in coaching the Nets as a head coach and not an assistant almost immediately after he announced his retirement.
Jason Kidd has emerged as the strong frontrunner to become the Brooklyn Nets head coach and could be hired before the end of the week, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Jason Kidd's reunion could be complete by the end of the week. (AP)Nets ownership has told league associates that it wants a "fresh face," as coach, and the hiring ofKidd would give them a star quality that comes with significant risk for a franchise with a mandate to compete for championships in the short term.
Talks on a possible contract for Kidd are under way, sources said.
Other reporters have said Shaw is still in consideration for the job and will interview with the team Wednesday. The Nets have also asked media members in the area to show up at 11 a.m. ET for a draft workout, after originally setting the time for media availability for noon.
Shaw has been one of the top coaching candidates for available positions around the league. Some thought he might be the lead candidate for the Nets' job recently with Hollins in the mix as well after his falling out with the Memphis Grizzlies. But Kidd's retirement and instant interest in becoming the coach in Brooklyn may have derailed the chances of Shaw getting the job.
Shaw was scheduled to interview with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, according to the same Yahoo report.
