P.J. Carlesimo, Brooklyn Nets Part Ways

May 4, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach P.J. Carlesimo reacts on the sidelines against the Chicago Bulls in game seven of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. Bulls win 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /

Less than 24 hours after the wounded Chicago Bulls eliminated the Brooklyn Nets from the NBA Playoffs, the team has announced that they will not be retaining head coach P.J. Carlesimo. The Nets announced Carlesimo is out and they will begin the team’s search for a new head coach immediately.

“The Brooklyn Nets organization would like to thank P.J. for his efforts with the team in his roles as both head coach and assistant, and for his contributions to the team’s success both on and off the court,” Brooklyn GM Billy Hunter said in a statement. “We wish P.J. and his family only the best in the years to come.”

Carlesimo was the team’s interim head coach after taking over for Avery Johnson after a disappointing start to the season.

The Nets responded well to Carlesimo and went 35-19 to end the season. The team was rolling in to the postseason and they were favorites over the Bulls, but they stumbled after game one of the series and it was too much to overcome.

As for a top target for the Nets vacant head coaching gig, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports shed some light on the possible replacement:

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