Who Will Coach the Nets?

Honestly, I am not sure on who will want to coach the Nets. This team is in a identity crisis and on top of that, injuries seem to plague the teams most valuable players. Despite the rumors on Deron Williams personality, he still is an all-star point guard who can wreck havoc on any opponent so the talent keeps them palpable. The ironic stat that hides from the mainstream is the current record. The Nets are 14 and 14 and have 54 games to turn this"disaster" around. I'm sure Phil Jackson wouldn't have a problem making this team a contender. But does he?

Jackson's longtime rep said Thursday that he has no interest in the Nets' job "at this time;" qualifier prompts continued speculation.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) December 28, 2012

It has been reported that The Nets have interest in Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy but they both have "supposedly " denied having interest in taking the job .

Stan Van Gundy has no interest in Brooklyn job
— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) December 27, 2012

I believe the Stan Van Gundy story more than Phil Jackson's. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is wealthy and there are NO salary cap restrictions or luxury taxes on coaches. The triangle offense is an complex system but Deron Williams should be smart enough to understand it since hes a "system player". The offense offers spacing and options which is what the Nets need. Williams might not dominate the ball but the there will be plenty opportunities that appeals to his strengths. Phil Jackson may not be an long-term hire though. I would say a two year deal would be the max for him and if this happens the Nets would be in a scramble for another coach. Unless, they make a run at Jackson's former assistant Brian Shaw.

Shaw has worked with Jackson as a player and an assistant so he would also be a good candidate  Plus he would stick around longer than Jackson would and may not require a large salary. But this is still a stretch because he is currently an assistant for the Indiana Pacers.This would most likely  happen next season if possible.

Other Candidates:

I would love to see Nate McMillan coach the Brooklyn Nets. His defensive mindset helped him become an assistant on the USA team and he has had three seasons where his team won about 50 games or more. His offense may be similar to Avery's but, the players will have to start making open shots which has been a problem in the month of December. Defense always comes first and Nate McMillan can stop the Nets from giving up more points than they score. With a winning percentage of  .516, it would be a mistake not to consider McMillan, especially since he has coached Williams for two summers and Gerald Wallace for several seasons.

Flip Saunders is another good candidate. Eleven post season appearances,638 regular season wins, and a percentage of .548. Him and Andray Blatche might not have the best relationship but they should get along,since Blatche has been playing significantly well. Saunders is seen as a tough coach and the Nets have tough players and veterans to draw Saunders interest.

Mike Fratello, the Nets analyst for Yes Network , is an candidate. He has coached for 17 seasons and has a winning percentage of .551. He also ranks 18th among the NBA's most successful coaches. With those accolades, Fratello also knows the team since he covers them. This is probably not a go to move for the Nets but don't be surprised if all else fails.

Mike Dunleavy, a Brooklyn Native wants to Coach the Nets. He said this on Sirus Radio:

“I’m from Brooklyn. Coaching there would be a dream come true.”
Is the Nets job a premiere job in the league? “I think it is now that they’re in Brooklyn.”
“The first thing you have to do as a coach is get (Deron) shots in his comfort zone.”

Kelvin Sampson, the assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, has emerged as an "significant" candidate. Houston officials admires his abilities to converse with star players and the Rockets are playing better basketball. Gregg Popovich and now Kevin McHale has had an strong influence on his coaching, and all of this had made him one of the favorites.

Long Shots: Jeff Van Gundy displays his brilliant basketball mind while commentating on ESPN. His upfront and honest personality will be a great fit for this team. I just think he loves his job and does not want the pressure again.

Chris Broussard has reported that Jerry Sloan is interesting in coaching again but refused to comment on the Nets and their starting point guard. Williams praised Sloan's offense even though he is the blame for his resign. I doubt Sloan wants to deal with that but him and Williams could put those problems in the past.

In a perfect world, Phil Jackson would be the best candidate for The Nets. He is the master of the triangle which has produced 11 championships. Flat out, no one can question his ability, so it will be up to him if he wants to take this challenge. Most people will ask if Williams and this offense can mesh with this system. I think it will be different but it can work. Watch this video by Sports Science explaining how lethal it can be.

If not Phil Jackson, I would take Nate McMillan but at this point, you never know. Who do you think is the best candidate to fix the Nets? Follow @NetsTakeOver