NBA Rumors: Brooklyn Nets eyeing pipe dream of hiring Gregg Popovich
NBA Rumors: Nets eyeing pipe dream of hiring Gregg Popovich
The Brooklyn Nets are less than 24 hours removed from being swept by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs. However, you can make the argument that the excitement for Nets fans is just beginning.
That’s because the next time the Nets take the court to practice/play for the 2020-21 season, they will be with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. And quite possibly, a new head coach. The Nets are expected to begin their head coaching hiring process, with a few familiar names.
Interestingly enough, the name at the top of their target board is one that will send waves through the NBA world. According to ESPN’s Jackie McMullan and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Nets are eyeing the pipe dream of hiring Gregg Popovich as their next head coach.
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Among other candidates, the Nets are also expected to consider Ty Lue and current interim Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn (who actually did a great job in the bubble games before the playoffs). However, hiring Popovich would be the most noteworthy head-coaching hire in decades.
In fact, when have we really seen a head-coaching hire in the NBA that would get fans as excited as the Nets hiring Popovich would? Never? Probably. Maybe. Likely.
With that said, it’s also highly unlikely for a number of reasons. For one, Pop is still under contract with the Spurs. It will likely take some sort of trade compensation for the Nets to pry him away from San Antonio. The Nets would likely be ready and willing to make the move, I’m not sure Popovich would be jumping at the opportunity. Popovich will be 72 years old in January and has coached the Spurs for 24 seasons.
Would he be willing to make such a life change at this point in his career? Moving from San Antonio to Brooklyn would be quite the change on the surface; add in having to deal – and manage – both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and I don’t know if it’s more or less appealing.
The Nets will try, however. And Sean Marks, the team’s general manager, has connections to the Spurs organization. There is a scenario where it wall breaks Brooklyn’s way and Popovich becomes the next head coach.
Next. Big changes coming to the Philadelphia 76ers. dark
Though, at least at this point, there are too many barriers to this actually becoming a likely outcome. It’s a great idea and you can’t fault Marks and the Nets for doing their due diligence. Right now this idea feels like a pipe dream, one that, ultimately, won’t come to fruition.