Sean Marks and the Nets are expected to do their "due diligence" on the possibility of hiring Gregg Popovich as the franchise’s next head coach, SNY sources confirm.
The Popovich-to-the-Nets possibility has been speculated on for months.
ESPN reported in March that Popovich was a candidate for the Nets opening. Sources confirmed this week that Brooklyn plans to at least check in to Popovich’s availability.
The Nets would have to get permission from San Antonio to speak to Popovich, who is reportedly under contract for at least the next two seasons. The future Hall of Fame coach has generally taken a year-to-year approach with his coaching future.
He told reporters earlier this month that he plans to coach next season.
Brooklyn would likely have to offer San Antonio compensation to hire Popovich. What could that compensation look like?
In 2013, the Clippers gave the Celtics a future first-round pick in exchange for Doc Rivers, who became the Clippers’ top executive and head coach.
In early July, Marks was asked about the possibility of pursuing Popovich.
"Pop has a job," Marks said in an interview with WFAN. "So I will say that. And, obviously, we all know he’s an amazing, amazing coach, and to be quite frank, an even better leader. So I’ll let Pop continue to coach for the Spurs, and he owes it to them and they owe it to him. I’m sure he’s quite happy there."
Marks has a strong connection with Popovich and the Spurs. He was an assistant general manager in San Antonio before coming to Brooklyn.
While sources believe the Nets will at least look into the feasibility of landing Popovich, it’s hard to find anyone in coaching circles who sees it as a likely possibility. The Los Angeles Times first reported earlier this month that the Nets will pursue Popovich, but noted that it would likely be an unsuccessful pursuit. The Athletic reported on Monday that the Nets will explore the possibility of hiring Popovich.
If Popovich declines the Nets’ overtures this offseason, maybe the club retains current head coach Jacque Vaughn for 2020-21 and tries again the following season. Vaughn played for Popovich and was an assistant coach under the Spurs legend.
It would be a bit odd for Brooklyn to have a coach in place for one season with the idea of hiring another coach next season, though. The Nets are dealing with a short title window (Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both have player options in the fourth year of contracts they signed prior to the 2019-20 season).
But Popovich is certainly worth the potentially awkward scenario of having Vaughn as a placeholder.
Vaughn is expected to get significant consideration for the job on his own, SNY sources confirm.
While he didn’t come out and say that he deserved the job on Sunday night after the Nets season ended in a Game 4 loss to Toronto, Vaughn certainly made a public case for his candidacy. He didn’t shy away from a question about his ability to coach Durant, Irving and the Nets next season.
“What I am confident in is my skill set as a coach -- my ability to communicate and have relationships with guys,” Vaughn said. “My ability to adjust, adjust on the fly, adjust with individuals -- those things I’m very comfortable with. I’m comfortable at this stage in my career with having voice and choice with my players.
“I’m very comfortable at this stage in my career with having truth and transparency with management. I’m very comfortable (at this level in my career) of having a care and confidence level with my performance. So those things, hopefully, were showcased. But at the end of the day, I’m very comfortable with all of those aspects.”
ESPN first reported that Vaughn would get consideration for the head coaching job next season. Other candidates the Nets may consider? Mark Jackson, Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, and Jeff Van Gundy.
Elevated to head coach after Kenny Atkinson was fired, Vaughn led the undermanned Nets to a solid performance in the seeding games in Orlando.
Will he be on the sideline when Irving and Durant take the court together for the first time as Nets next season? That probably depends, in part, on how Irving and Durant feel about playing for Vaughn.
It’s worth noting that both stars have played for Popovich under Team USA.
When he was asked about it on Sunday, Nets veteran Garrett Temple said he would like to see Vaughn back on the sideline next season.
“He’s a face that people know, the guys that will be coming back have played for him (when he was an assistant) the last three-to-four years here,” Temple said. “….I’m definitely a fan of JV…He’s shown that he deserves to be a head coach in this league.”
Temple added that neither he – nor anyone else – knows exactly what’s going to happen this offseason.
But the veteran said he’d like to be back in Brooklyn next season. He has a $5 million team option for next year.
“I hope to be back here next year, too,” Temple said.
