The Brooklyn Nets lost Game 7 to get eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night and the following day the team announced that they will be looking for a new head coach for next year, as they will not retain P.J. Carlesimo and one name that could be an option is Larry Brown.
According to NBA.com, Carlesimo will not be retained after taking over as head coach for Avery Johnson, who was fired earlier in the year and the Nets could look to make a big splash with the next hire, which could have names like Larry Brown, Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy in the search. The Nets decided not to retain Carlesimo despite going 35-19 after Johnson was fired and the team earned the fourth seed in the Eastern conference playoffs after the team was one of the worst last season.
General manager Billy King said that he respected the job Carlesimo did and felt that the best long-term solution was another head coach. He said that he hoped that he could get another job in the NBA and with the Bucks and 76ers jobs open, he could have an opportunity. King said he spoke with ownership about the decision and that the organization would take its time while searching for the next option. One of the top names linked to the job is Phil Jackson, who is helping the Detroit Pistons as a consultant while they look for their next coach.
Jackson previously played for the Knicks in New York and if the team is looking for a splash he could be the one to get. Larry Brown has New York connections as well and could be swayed to leave SMU where he is now, while both Jeff and Stan Van Gundy as well as Jerry Sloan may also be targets for the Nets. King said to reporters that he won't rule any names out and other reports said that a number of teams have reached out to Phil Jackson already about possibly returning as a coach. ESPN also reported that point guard Deron Williams said he would "love" to play for his former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan again.
NBA.com reporter David Aldridge Tweeted about those options, writing:, "Obvious Nets short list: Jeff/Stan Van Gundy, Larry Brown. Will ask Phil (Jackson), though PJ wants (Pat) Riley deal--control of franchise, not coaching it."
The Nets lost 99-93 in Game 7 and now the Bulls will advance to play against the Miami Heat, who had their 27-game winning streak snapped by the team earlier in the year. King may try to go after Dwight Howard in free agency after being unable to acquire him in a trade and the head coach will be the first major priority for the franchise this offseason.
