Brooklyn Nets Reportedly Going After Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson has let it be known that he’s not interested in coaching the Brooklyn Nets, who fired their coach Avery Johnson yesterday. Jackson’s reluctance isn’t deterring the Nets, according to published reports. The organization is said to be going hard after the Hall of Fame coach. Per the NY Daily News: “How much money would it take to pry Phil Jackson out of retirement? Mikhail Prokhorov might be willing to find out. The Nets have made Phil Jackson their top target to replace Avery Johnson and have already reached out to the coach with 11 rings, according to multiple reports. Nets GM Billy King danced around the subject of Jackson on Thursday, but the Nets’ roster is built for the triangle offense and no other available coach comes close to his resume and pedigree. ‘I think he’s the logical choice,’ Nets guard Jerry Stackhouse said. ‘He’s been in a lot of big-time situations. That’s who he is. If I’m an owner or a general manager and I’m going to make a coaching change, he’d definitely be the first guy I’d see if he had any interest.’ It’s unclear if Jackson would be interested in taking the job with the Nets, who have demonstrated major flaws through the first third of the season. Jackson recently flirted with the idea of returning to the Lakers before Mike D’Antoni was hired. Jackson’s agent told NBA.com that he wasn’t interested in the Nets ‘at this time.'”