With the NBA’s postseason more than a month away from being over, the league’s coaching carousel has already begin to spin as eliminated teams attempt to plan for next season.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Nets are interested in hiring San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich away from the Spurs and bringing him to Brooklyn.
Playing without superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the injury-depleted Nets were swept out of the first round of the postseason by the defending champion Toronto Raptors on Sunday and are beginning a search for their new coach immediately.
In addition to Popovich, the Nets are also interested in exploring keeping incumbent Jacque Vaughn or bringing in Jason Kidd, Ty Lue, Ime Udoka or Jeff Van Gundy.
Popovich, 71, has coached the Spurs for more than 20 years and won five championships in San Antonio. This year was the first time in 22 seasons that the Spurs did not qualify for the postseason and is also the first time the team finished with a losing record (32-39) since 1996-97, the year Popovich took over as coach 18 games into the season.
“Popovich expressed after the Spurs’ season ended in Orlando that he intends to continue coaching, and there is no indication right now that it would be anywhere but San Antonio,” according to The Athletic. “Still, sources said, the Nets will pursue the viability of Popovich.”
The Philadelphia 76ers, who were also swept out of the playoffs and looked bad during their series against the Boston Celtics, are also looking to replace their head coach, according to Charania.
Brett Brown, who has been the head coach of the Sixers for the last seven seasons, could potentially be replaced by candidates including Udoka, Lue or Dave Joerger. Villanova head coach Jay Wright has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for Brown in Philadelphia.
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