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The Brooklyn Nets are planning to launch a full-on assault on the head coaching market in the offseason in hopes to find a new leader for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the rest of the squad, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday morning.
The Nets are currently in 7th place in the East as we approach the 2020 NBA Playoffs. This would have been a time of excitement for Brooklyn. Instead, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are spectators and the Nets aren’t expected to do much. Any success in the postseason is just an added bonus for the future, which appears bright given how the rest of the core has performed in the NBA bubble in Orlando.
Let’s get to some candidates though. Shams is reporting that a few big names are on the top of the list so far. Jason Kidd, Jeff Van Gundy and Ty Lue highlight that list of familiar faces. Another name popping up is reportedly Ime Udoka, an assistant for the 76ers. The Nets fired Kenny Atkinson during the season and replaced him with Jacques Vaughn in the interim. Vaughn has done a nice job in the bubble with the Nets 4-2. Caris LeVert has evolved into a solid No. 3 behind Durant and Kyrie. Plus, the Nets also have Jarrett Allen, sharpshooter Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie, who opted out of the restart.
Whichever candidate ends up with the job will have their hands full and high expectations for the 2020-2021 season. Durant missed all of this season after tearing his Achilles with the Warriors during last year’s playoffs. Kyrie had shoulder surgery after battling through the injury for parts of this season. The plan is for both to return 100% and ready for a title push after this season wraps up.