Mike Budenholzer, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, and Suns assistant Kevin Young are finalists for the Nets‘ head coaching job, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Nets, who parted ways with Jacque Vaughn in February and replaced him with interim head coach Kevin Ollie, opted not to wait for the end of the season to begin their head coaching search. NetsDaily reported earlier today (Twitter link) that Brooklyn’s search process has been ongoing for more than a month and is believed to have been “extensive,” which Charania confirms.
According to Charania, Ollie received consideration for the permanent job, as did several other outside candidates, including Heat assistant Chris Quinn and Pelicans assistant James Borrego.
However, the franchise appears to have zeroed in on Budenholzer, Fernandez, and Young as its finalists. Sources tell The Athletic that team owner Joe Tsai will hold in-person meetings with all three candidates, with a final decision to be made sometime in the not-too-distant future.
A two-time Coach of the Year, Budenholzer compiled a 484-317 (.604) regular season record across 10 seasons as an NBA head coach from 2013-23 — five in Atlanta and five in Milwaukee. He also owns a 56-48 (.538) overall postseason record and won a championship with the Bucks in 2021. Budenholzer was an assistant in San Antonio when Nets general manager Sean Marks joined the Spurs’ front office in 2012.
Fernandez, who technically holds the title of associate head coach on Mike Brown‘s staff in Sacramento, served as an assistant in Denver from 2016-22 before making the move to the Kings. He has long been considered a future NBA head coach and led the Canadian national team to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He’ll coach the Canadians at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
Young is another veteran assistant who has been promoted to associate head coach and has received NBA head coaching consideration in recent years. He reportedly interviewed with the Rockets, Bucks, Raptors, and Suns a year ago. Young was an assistant with the Sixers from 2016-20 before spending the last four seasons in Phoenix.
The Nets are one of three teams in the market for a permanent head coach, along with the Hornets and Wizards.
Get Buddy. He turns teams around.
Zach LaVine for Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, a first round pick and multiple seconds.
Then I’d look to move off Cam Johnson for some depth. Portland for Brogdan and Rob Williams, throw in Whitehead and Clowney for salary matching.
Bring in coach Bud
Brogdan LaVine Bridges DFS Claxton
Schroder and RobWill off the bench and fill out the rest of the rotation through FA.
You’ve also got KBD and Wilson on the books for next season.
Quality team Quality coach
Defensively LaVine is the only weak link everyone else holds their own or better. Offensively besides Claxton all the starters can shoot, LaVine is a 30 points per game kinda guy when he’s going good. Schroder is a solid contributor off the wood and RobWill is a great back up. You’d just need 3 and D wings to fill it out
That would be a hard ‘no’ from Portland. Why would they give up Brogdon to take on what essentially are a Brooklyn’s castoffs? Not even desperation to get Brogdon’s salary off thr Blazers’ books would lead them to this.
It would be for the long term future Cam Johnson would be a solid forward for them and help space the floor for a guy like Scoot and Ayton. The other guys are just projects tho but Brogdan is only ever a back up that won’t be there long term in Portland. It’s a easy yes
As bulls fan,ill take cam johnson over ben simmons.bulls need big who can play defense and shoot. Prime simmons is very good player,but now he look like have no heart to play anymore
lol wow two terrible trade ideas in the same post
Yes, he doesn’t realize that Lavine is more negative asset than Simons. In case of trade between Bulls and Nets it would be Bulls giving extra assets not Nets.
Something like Lavine, Dosunmu for Simons, Johnson
Lol. At least LaVine is not afraid to shoot the ball, therefore making Simmons the negative asset. You ain’t getting Ayo.
I’d say close to same negative value, Zach by far has a worst deal cause it’s multiple seasons but atleast when he’s on the court is a near all star level contributor especially on offence. Whereas Ben at best plays 20 games a season and puts up 10-6-6 roughly and then goes down injured again.
Brooklyn need a number 1 option on offence and Zach would give them that, think he’s a really good fit playing with Mikal and Claxton. So I think Brooklyn would be really motivated and Chicago would be doing this as a salary dump with Cam and a first as a good enough return