By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Brooklyn Nets are looking for a new head coach. And their front office has one of the best coaches in the league on their mind.
The Nets are coveting San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. But can they get him?
It’s definitely possible. And if the Nets can pry Popovich away from the Spurs, it’s likely going to take a trade. He has two more years left on his contract.
The last trade involving a coach included the Nets. On July 1, 2014, the Nets traded Jason Kidd to the Milwaukee Bucks for two second round picks that came in the 2015 and 2019 NBA Drafts.
Kidd reportedly wanted more power at the time of the trade, which then-Nets GM Billy King was not willing to give him.
Sean Marks, who is overseeing the Nets front office now, previously played for Popovich and even coached under him. He played for Popovich from 2003-06.
In addition, Marks was an assistant coach from 2013-16 with the Spurs. He also was an Assistant General Manager in the San Antonio front office.
Marks said that he was doing his ‘due diligence’ on Popovich.
If Popovich was to jump ship, the time would be now. The Spurs are rebuilding — and it’s going to be tough for them to be a contender with their current roster in the tough Western Conference.
The team may not re-sign DeMar DeRozen in the off-season. If they don’t, then their best player on their roster by name is aging LaMarcus Aldridge.
Both DeRozen and Aldridge were the team’s two leading scorers on the season.
This season, the team went 32-39 and missed the playoffs. When they were eliminated from the playoffs, it was the first-time in 22-years that they missed the second stanza in the season.
With the Nets — if he’s back to 100% health — they have one of the Top 3 players in the league in Kevin Durant. Also, they have a head case in Kyrie Irving, who has burnt bridges in every location he has been in his career.
Irving has clashed with the Nets, as well, during his first-season with the team. Can Popovich control Irving and mentor him?That’ll be a wait and see.
The New Jersey native has never had a coach like Popovich in his career.
Besides Durant and Irving, the Nets have better depth than the Spurs, as well, barring any significant trades.
