Fansided

Brooklyn Nets targeting Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw for coaching position

By Joshua Santos

May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court at the end of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court at the end of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court at the end of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court at the end of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

With a vacant heading coaching job available, after the Nets fired P.J. Carlisemo after losing game seven against the Chicago Bulls, general manager Billy King, owner Mikhail Prokhorvo and the Nets organization have begun their coaching search with Jackson, Sloan, Shaw and McMillian headlining the search.

According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News reports that the Nets wanted Jackson. However Jackson has said that he has no intention to coach another team again, but instead wants to a front office position. A job where he’s King’s boss instead of vice-versa. That however seems unlikely, considering all the top front office positions are locked in.

So how about Deron Williams’ former head coach, Jerry Sloan, whom coached him during his tenure with the Utah Jazz? Tim Bontemps of The New York Post reports that it could happen.

"Williams said he “would love” to play again for Jerry Sloan, his old coach in Utah, and when Phil Jackson’s name came up, Williams said, “Who wouldn’t want to play for Phil Jackson?”"

However some people believe Williams had tension with Sloan, causing the termination of his coaching job in Utah. Nonetheless, according to Ryan Carreon of Deseret News, 71-year-old Sloan, has been wanting to coach in the NBA again.

"“I talked to a couple of friends of Jerry Sloan’s within the past couple of days, he definitely wants to return to coaching, and the other interesting facet is that he wants to coach in the small markets, one similar to Utah, so I think Milwaukee qualifies as that kind of environment,” he said in the interview."

Would Sloan, want to coach the same guy that got him fired? Perhaps, but even if he dosen’t get the Nets coaching job, he’s sure to get some attention from other teams around the league.

The other coaches that have drawn attention are Brian Shaw and Nate McMillian. Both coaches, along with Jackson, have essentially been mentioned in every vacant job opening. Maybe the Nets hire one of these four coaches.

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