As we have reported over the past few days the Nets parted ways with head coach Avery Johnson last week. Speculation has been rampant about who the Nets would try to get to replace Johnson.
There has been talk of trying to contact Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, and Jeff Van Gundy even through his name into the mix. ESPN New York is reporting that Nets GM Billy King will stand pat for now, and stick with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo.
“We’ve put our support behind (P.J.) and then we’ll look at things and evaluate it later,” King said. “I know people have been throwing lists together and things like that, but we have not contacted anybody. … We’ve made the move and now we’re going to let P.J. coach.”
“Sometimes you just need a different voice,” King said. “What I like about P.J. is he’s had NBA head coaching experience. I think he understands the game, he’s been around it.”
“More than anything, you just need to calm the waters and let guys breathe as a group and try to gel,” King said. “Because if we’re in the middle of a search, the turmoil just continues. We need our guys to just focus on the now and San Antonio (on Monday).”
King made the right choice in the matter. No matter who the Nets rushed in, they were not going to perform a miracle, and this group as constructed won’t win a title this season.
It allows King and Nets brass to evaluate Carlesimo, and take a lengthy approach to choosing their next head coach.