Re: Mike Budenholzer, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young Among Finalists For Nets Coach

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Brooklyn Nets are closing in on finding their next head coach. Mike Budenholzer, Jordi Fernandez and Kevin Young are among the finalists to be the Nets next head coach. All three are meeting with Brooklyn governor Joe Tsai, and a decision is expected to be made soon.

Budenholzer spent five years apiece as the head coach for the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks His team's made the playoffs in nine of those seasons, including winning the 2021 NBA Finals with the Bucks

Fernandez has worked on Mike Brown's staff with the Sacramento Kings for the past two seasons. He also spent six years as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.

Kevin Young has been the Phoenix Suns associate head coach for the last three years. He also worked for the Philadelphia 76ers prior to heading to Phoenix in 2020.

Brooklyn fired Jacque Vaughn over the All-Star break. Kevin Ollie has served as the Nets interim head coach since Vaughn was fired.

Via Shams Charania/The Athletic

[njknicks]

Nets would be hiring their 6th replacement head coach in 5 seasons …. in addition to 3 massive roster overhauls ( ie Kenny Atkinson & D’Angelo roster … KD / Kyrie / Harden … Mikal Bridges / Simmons ) during the same time period.

The blueprint are 3 franchises : Spurs, GSW, Heat

All have / had a few things in common :

* Coaching continuity / stability
* Front office continuity
* Roster continuity ( players that fit the system )
* An identity that the team rallied around
* Star talent
* Sound finance / Return on Investment

Nets were in the cusp of an incredible turn around - but fell short due to the blunder(s) that the GM ( Sean Marks ) made :

* hiring Steve Nash ( instead of an experienced head coach - ie, Mike Brown, Budenholzer, etc)
* paltry return on KD / Kyrie / Harden trades

Sean Marks ability to attract / trade for the biggest names in the league has kept him around … but his inability to keep that same elite talent in tact ( & win ) may be enough to move on to a new front office.

Interesting off-season for the Nets awaits.

[Ssj16]

Nets would be hiring their 6th replacement head coach in 5 seasons …. in addition to 3 massive roster overhauls ( ie Kenny Atkinson & D’Angelo roster … KD / Kyrie / Harden … Mikal Bridges / Simmons ) during the same time period.

The blueprint are 3 franchises : Spurs, GSW, Heat

All have / had a few things in common :

* Coaching continuity / stability
* Front office continuity
* Roster continuity ( players that fit the system )
* An identity that the team rallied around
* Star talent
* Sound finance / Return on Investment

Nets were in the cusp of an incredible turn around - but fell short due to the blunder(s) that the GM ( Sean Marks ) made :

* hiring Steve Nash ( instead of an experienced head coach - ie, Mike Brown, Budenholzer, etc)
* paltry return on KD / Kyrie / Harden trades

Sean Marks ability to attract / trade for the biggest names in the league has kept him around … but his inability to keep that same elite talent in tact ( & win ) may be enough to move on to a new front office.

Interesting off-season for the Nets awaits.

I'd add Denver to the list of model franchises. It's so interesting that there is a clear blueprint as you laid out, yet so few teams follow it.

I feel like the Raps were there at one point but in the last several years, I'm not sure what Masai is doing.