Nets eye Kidd; Shaw still in mix
The Brooklyn Nets are down to two candidates to fill their head coaching vacancy, according to reports.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday that former NBA player Jason Kidd is set to become the team's coach and that a deal is expected to be finalized this week.
However, Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw interviewed on Wednesday, a session that lasted nearly five hours. Shaw is also in the running for the Los Angeles Clippers' opening.
The Nets are expected to name a coach this week.
Kidd retired as a player earlier this month after one season with the New York Knicks. During seven of his 19 seasons in the NBA, Kidd played point guard for the then-New Jersey Nets.
The 40-year-old Kidd has emerged as a popular choice for the job despite his lack of coaching experience. Shaw, meanwhile, has worked as an NBA assistant for eight years after retiring as a player.
Kidd appears to have supporters and detractors.
"Great move on all levels," former NBA coach and player Avery Johnson said in a text to the Daily News regarding Kidd.
Former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was not so complimentary.
"There are so many people out there who have great experience in coaching," Van Gundy told NBC Sports Radio. "To go for a guy who has never coached anywhere at any level to me is mind-boggling. And if you decide to do that as a front-office guy, your job will be on the line and should be on the line if it doesn't work out."
