http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5268483 [rquoter]The New Jersey Nets and ESPN analyst Avery Johnson have reached a verbal agreement to hire Johnson as the Nets' new coach, according to sources close to the process. Johnson, who has been working for ESPN since his dismissal from the Dallas Mavericks after the 2007-08 season, was the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2005 and took the Mavs to the NBA Finals in 2006. He posted a record of 194-70 in three-plus seasons, good for a winning percentage of .735, and will be reunited in New Jersey with point guard Devin Harris. Johnson was a finalist for the coaching job in Atlanta, having met Saturday with Hawks general manager Rick Sund for his third in-person visit with the team. The Hawks are expected to make their choice this week, after conducting multiple interviews with Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey, holdover Hawks assistant Larry Drew, ESPN analyst Mark Jackson and Johnson[/rquoter]
I think you'll see the Nets try and trade Devin Harris. It was rumored by several people that Johnson had issues with Harris. Then again, I expect to see a lot of deals take place on draft night. Johnson is a good defensive coach overall. I think he tends to burn out his players too much. He did it when he was in Dallas.
Nets is the best spot for Lebron. Avery does get the most out of his players and he also burned them out but I think sitting back and learning helped him and should be a even better coach.
Avery probably accepted the job in part because of Harris.. He never wanted to trade him to the Nets when he was in Dallas. He loves him.
I don't know about that... Like I said... Rumors had it that Johnson wasn't sold on Harris and they had issues.
BS! Every reporter that covers the Mavs, the F.O etc know Avery was always tougher than necessary on Devin and actually pushed for the trade then after the trade was made and the team still gave the same turd like effort in the playoffs, he(Avery) started distancing himself from it. Devin must be so thrilled to be reunited w/ Avery. Well at least this time maybe Devin will stand up to the Little General when the situation requires it and not take ish from him.
Isn't Harris also pretty good at drawing fouls? A DH, KM back court would be exciting, and one of the best in the history of basketball.
I think AJ has learned from the Dallas situation . He will be great coach for Lebron or another star player. As far as CDR goes....who cares what a role-player thinks !! Edit: His "no comment" was in reference to his own future with the team. My apologies CDR.
I still don't get it. He somehow managed to jump from player to assistant to head coach in record time just because he loudly campaigned for a head coach position every chance he got. And what has he shown as a head coach? That he can take a very good team and keep it good until the players tire of him. Nothing more. I may be the only one here who thinks he's a mediocre coach who has an undeserved reputation as a good one. Regardless, as long as he's coaching a team other than the Rockets, I don't give a ****.
