Nets fire Avery Johnson

**Reg** · 12-27-2012, 04:02 PM

By Mike Mazzeo | Special to ESPNNewYork.com

The Brooklyn Nets have relieved Avery Johnson of his coaching duties, general manager Billy King announced Thursday.

P.J. Carlesimo has been named the interim coach, a source told ESPN.

One NBA coaching source told ESPN.com that the Nets will immediately start a broad search for Johnson's replacement, which will include a call to gauge Phil Jackson's interest after Jackson was bypassed by the Lakers in November after Mike Brown was fired five games into the season.

A list of the top available coaching names includes Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Stan Van Gundy, Nate McMillan, Mike Dunleavy, Brown, and ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy and Flip Saunders.

The prospect of a Sloan reunion with Deron Williams seems highly unlikely, however, after the coach's abrupt resignation in Utah in February 2010 two weeks before the Jazz decided to deal Williams to the Nets. But the coaching source did not rule the possibility that Brooklyn will also sound out Southern Methodist University's Larry Brown about a possible NBA return given Brown's close association with Nets general manager Billy King.

A source told ESPN Los Angeles that the Nets have not placed an "official" call to gauge Jackson's interest yet. If they do, Jackson would entertain the idea in much the same way he did when the Lakers called him and he spent the weekend analyzing the Lakers roster and visualizing how he would turn it into a championship team.

Johnson, who was in the final year of his contract, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November following an 11-4 start. But the Nets have won just three of their past 13 games in December, prompting the team to go in another direction.

The Nets, at 14-14, currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

**G-men** · 12-27-2012, 04:42 PM

It's time to put up or shut up for D-Will. He's forced a trade and gotten two coaches fired. He's gotta play a lot better than he is right now

**ragman** · 12-28-2012, 11:04 AM

Maybe it's just as well that the Mavs didn't sign him after all.

**scoobay** · 12-28-2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragman

Maybe it's just as well that the Mavs didn't sign him after all.

i was thinking the same thing...

yeah he got avery fired - big whoop but remember that the first guy he got fired is that dude from Utah... Jerry frickin' Sloan. unbelievable. turning out to be quite a whiner - he'll never win anything at this rate.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis · 01-08-2013, 08:22 PM

lolAveryJohnson.

Nets are 6-1 under Carlesimo.

12-27-2012, 04:02 PM	#1
Reg Ray's #2 Hero/Gramps HOF'er (retired jersey) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pontiac,MI Posts: 39,316 Reputation: 1285 My Mood: : $303068	Nets fire Avery Johnson By Mike Mazzeo \| Special to ESPNNewYork.com The Brooklyn Nets have relieved Avery Johnson of his coaching duties, general manager Billy King announced Thursday. P.J. Carlesimo has been named the interim coach, a source told ESPN. One NBA coaching source told ESPN.com that the Nets will immediately start a broad search for Johnson's replacement, which will include a call to gauge Phil Jackson's interest after Jackson was bypassed by the Lakers in November after Mike Brown was fired five games into the season. A list of the top available coaching names includes Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Stan Van Gundy, Nate McMillan, Mike Dunleavy, Brown, and ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy and Flip Saunders. The prospect of a Sloan reunion with Deron Williams seems highly unlikely, however, after the coach's abrupt resignation in Utah in February 2010 two weeks before the Jazz decided to deal Williams to the Nets. But the coaching source did not rule the possibility that Brooklyn will also sound out Southern Methodist University's Larry Brown about a possible NBA return given Brown's close association with Nets general manager Billy King. A source told ESPN Los Angeles that the Nets have not placed an "official" call to gauge Jackson's interest yet. If they do, Jackson would entertain the idea in much the same way he did when the Lakers called him and he spent the weekend analyzing the Lakers roster and visualizing how he would turn it into a championship team. Johnson, who was in the final year of his contract, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November following an 11-4 start. But the Nets have won just three of their past 13 games in December, prompting the team to go in another direction. The Nets, at 14-14, currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. __________________

12-27-2012, 04:42 PM	#2
G-men Administrator HOF'er (retired jersey) Helicopter Champion! Helicopter2 Champion! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 12,401 Reputation: 2195 : $105024	It's time to put up or shut up for D-Will. He's forced a trade and gotten two coaches fired. He's gotta play a lot better than he is right now __________________

01-08-2013, 08:22 PM	#5
BenJarvus Green-Ellis On Vacation Casual Fan Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 202 Reputation: 195 : $2000	lolAveryJohnson. Nets are 6-1 under Carlesimo. __________________ http://wac.9ebf.edgecastcdn.net/809E...23-480x320.jpg

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12-28-2012, 11:04 AM	#3
ragman Senior Member Casual Fan Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 452 Reputation: 48 : $4475	Maybe it's just as well that the Mavs didn't sign him after all.

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