The Brooklyn Nets, who were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday, are interested in San Antonio Spurs icon Gregg Popovich as their next head coach and will explore that possibility, The Athletic has learned. The Nets will start their head coaching search immediately, and as The Athletic detailed on Aug. 11, Brooklyn owner Joe Tsai wants a full-scale process to identify the proper coach for the franchise. The Nets have a list of coaching candidates, including the incumbent Jacque Vaughn, Jason Kidd, Ty Lue, Ime Udoka and Jeff Van Gundy. Vaughn did a tremendous job coaching the Nets given the circumstances inside the NBA bubble, and will remain a significant candidate to retain the job. However, there is another dream candidate, a coaching icon whose stature speaks for itself. The first priority of the Nets’ coaching search has become clear: They plan to seriously explore the possibilities with Popovich, sources tell The Athletic. 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. Still, sources said, the Nets will pursue the viability of Popovich. He is a favorite of Nets star Kevin Durant, league sources say, even dating as far back as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s coaching search process in 2015 (which ultimately concluded with the hire of Billy Donovan). There is known to be tremendous mutual respect between Popovich and KD. Durant’s presence and voice is powerful within the Nets’ franchise, and Popovich represents a bonding candidate between the two-time Finals MVP and Brooklyn’s front office. ESPN reported on Sunday evening that Durant and Irving have shown an interest in Popovich. In addition, Popovich has several connections to the Nets, including general manager Sean Marks, assistant GM Andy Birdsong, Vaughn, and assistant coaches Bret Brielmaier and Tiago Splitter. Marks, Vaughn and Splitter all played for Popovich in San Antonio too, with Marks and Vaughn serving as assistants under him at different points. Across the NBA, Popovich, 71, leaving the franchise he has stewarded for 26 years and taking a new opportunity is deemed a pipe dream for now. The Nets would need permission to speak to Popovich, and compensation could become necessary if talks advance.
This is a rule? Spurs can charge other teams actual money for them to even just talk to their coach? That's interesting.
Purely from a basketball stand point, it would be awesome if they did pay to talk with him and if he actually opted to coach there. Can you imagine Kyrie and KD thinking they run the roost and Pop gets there and says my way/highway! The front office has actually been surprisingly OK the past few years signing and building the roster. Not great but not horrible. I just don't see it though. Maybe Pop coaches another 3-5 years and that team is going to need at least 3 years to become a threat. Not just make the playoffs every year but make a deep run every year.
Spurs can grant Nets permission. If Pop decides to leave, since he is still under contract, the Spurs can demand an FRP or SRP, which would be the likely going price if Pop decided to leave the Spurs for the Nets.
Maybe the wind will change, right now it seems unlikely. He's not just the coach, he's also the president. And if by some chance he leaves, is he taking his coaching tree with him? Lot of head coaches appoint their own staff.
Ah, gotcha. Just interpreted "...compensation if talks advance" as "gotta pay us cash to even speak to our coach." If I was Pop, I'd strongly consider it. The Spurs are the Spurs, but they won't be competitive in the WC for a while. You have up-and-comers like the Pelicans, Grizzlies and Suns, not to mention the stalwarts like the Rockets. Then you have the Mavs and Nuggets, and the Warriors who will return to form next season. Meanwhile, the top-heavy East remains top-heavy. 76ers look absolutely done. Depending on how the Bucks do, Giannis might consider a change of scenery. That leaves the Raptors, Celtics and Heat. So Pop would be going from can't-shoot-3s Derozan and an aging LMA who would be coming off surgery, for Kyrie, KD, Levert and a whole group of pretty solid players? Don't think anyone can fault Pop for leaving, nor criticize him since he's done everything a coach could possibly do for a franchise.
I think it would be great for Pop to coach Kyrie/Durant for the next few years of his career. He's done it all in SA I think he deserves to coach elsewhere to allow SA to start the rebuilding process.
No way KD and Kyrie allow them to get Pop (even if Pop was willing lol). They want a coach that basically allows them to coach themselves.
Hmmmmmmm. Interesting interesting. Hall of Fame players rarely make good coaches long term. Should be interesting for sure.
Coaches that make it in the NBA despite limited physical talent are the ones that generally make the best coaches. I would say Nash, Bird, Riley, Kerr, Carlisle, and Doc all fit in that category.
I'm intrigued. Steve Nash could be a home run. Head coach require a different skill set (then say a shooting coach at GSW), but he may be cut out for it.
