Nets Reach Out to Avery Johnson

Filed under: Nets, FanHouse Exclusive

Just one day after the sale of the New Jersey Nets to Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov was approved by the NBA, team president Rod Thorn quietly started the team's coaching search.



League sources told FanHouse that Thorn inquired about Avery Johnson and his interest in the Nets job through his representatives on Wednesday. The former Dallas coach has already interviewed for openings in Philadelphia and New Orleans and looked to be the frontrunner for the Hornets job, but he is believed to have interest in joining New Jersey.



An interview has not yet been scheduled, but Thorn -- who has said he is hoping to have a coach in place before the June draft -- is expected to begin interviewing with candidates soon. Yet while Johnson will certainly receive consideration, the Nets continue to hope the prospect of big money on two vital fronts can coerce Jeff Van Gundy to return to coaching: his potential salary and the team's salary cap space.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/13/nets-reach-out-to-avery-johnson/