The Nets’ teaching workers suffered a mind drain final offseason that proved expensive. It may occur once more this offseason, as a result of assistant Steve Clifford is within the image for the Kings’ head-coaching job.
Clifford isn’t a full-time assistant coach for the Nets, he’s a marketing consultant. Nonetheless, he has offered an skilled veteran sounding board for head coach Steve Nash, who simply wrapped an up-and-down drama-filled second season on the job. Clifford interviewed Sunday in California a supply advised The Put up, and remains to be believed to be within the combine for the job in Sacramento.
“We’ll see if anybody has a job alternative to be a head [coach],” Nash mentioned after the Nets’ first-round playoff sweep by the hands of Boston. “However I actually loved working with my workers. They’ve been unbelievable at staying collectively this yr.”
Present Warriors assistant Mike Brown and former Golden State coach and present ESPN analyst Mark Jackson are among the many finalists for the Kings job, in accordance with ESPN.
The 60-year-old Clifford was the top coach for Charlotte from 2013-18, and for Orlando from 2018-21, earlier than signing on as a Nets marketing consultant. He was additionally a Knicks assistant from 2001-03.
Mike D’Antoni had been on the Kings’ interview record and is at present within the combine for the Hornets’ opening in accordance with ESPN. D’Antoni was a part of the Nets’ mind drain final summer time. D’Antoni, who coached Nash with each the Suns and Lakers, additionally was a head coach with the Knicks and Rockets earlier than becoming a member of Nash’s preliminary workers as a de facto offensive coordinator for a yr.
Ime Udoka served an identical function on the opposite finish of the court docket for the Nets’ 2020-21 staff, which got here a Kevin Durant toe (and Kyrie Irving and James Harden accidents) away from beating the eventual champion Bucks within the Jap Convention semifinals.
However D’Antoni stepped away after the season and Udoka landed the Boston head teaching job. Harden missed D’Antoni’s pick-and-roll experience, and Udoka guided the Celtics previous the Nets and his former boss.
The ugly first-round exit introduced Nash and his workers below scrutiny, though Durant mentioned he totally expects the coach to be again. Nash thinks so too.
“Yeah I beloved doing this and love these guys, love my workers, love all of the departments,” Nash mentioned. “Actually have an ideal working surroundings, actually loved it and wish to proceed doing it.”
D’Antoni can be anticipated to fulfill with the Hornets, together with former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson (now a Warriors assistant), ex-Nets assistant Sean Sweeney (now a Mavericks assistant and one of many recreation’s rising younger minds) and the Bucks’ Darvin Ham.
Post a Comment