Phil Jackson, the 11-time NBA championship-winning coach may be advising the Detroit Pistons in their search for a new head coach, but he is also being wooed back to the bench by the Brooklyn Nets, according to reports.
A source close to the Nets organization said the team has reached out to him, although he admitted a return to coaching in Brooklyn is likely not in the cards. Nets general manager Billy King said he is open to bringing Jackson into a front office role as well. An ESPN.com report speculates that Jackson may receive a "Pat Riley-type role" in which he joins the Nets as team president while getting a slice of ownership.
The Nets source said that the candidates interesting the team right now after Jackson are Larry Brown and Brian Shaw. Jackson coached Shaw when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers and it is known in league circles that Jackson has faith in his coaching future. Should Jackson enter the fold, Shaw would likely become a leading candidate to land the position. He is currently the lead assistant to Frank Vogel with the Indiana Pacers. According to a second unnamed source, neither Shaw nor Brown have been scheduled for an interview.
The reports of Shaw and Brown being at the top of Brooklyn's wish list contradicts initial reports claiming Brooklyn's front office was enamored with Jeff Van Gundy and his brother Stan Van Gundy. The source also indicated long-shot candidates could be current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers if he is released from his contract, and Jerry Sloan, who coached Deron Williams in Utah.
The New York Daily News put forth yet another sleeper candidate to wind up on the Nets bench-Mike Dunleavy. Their report cites a strong relationship with King as the reason for his consideration.
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