Nets Rumors: Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson Among Candidates for HC Job

Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and interim coach Jacque Vaughn are reportedly among the names the Brooklyn Nets have discussed hiring to replace Kenny Atkinson as head coach.

Marc Stein  of the  New York Times reported the Nets are not expected to fully ramp up their search until the 2019 -20 season is completed—whether that 's via a cancellation or completion later this summer

Logic would dictate that Kidd is by far the least likely of the five candidates listed. Kidd left the organization in 2014 after only one season as coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, a falling out that was with a previous regime but still likely left some bad blood with the fanbase.

Jackson and Van Gundy are seemingly linked to every coaching vacancy under the sun, but neither of them wind up actually taking the jobs, instead choosing to stay in their cozy broadcasting perch. Van Gundy hasn't coached NBA basketball since 2007.

Lue is perhaps the clubhouse favorite, given his championship-winning pedigree and relationship with Kyrie Irving. Stefon Bondy of the New York Daily News reported Lue was interested in taking the Brooklyn job if offered. Lue nearly reunited with LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers last summer before the two sides had a falling out over stipulations of his contract.

What's clear is the Nets have to be careful with their next coach selection. Atkinson is a widely respected coach who brought the Nets back from their franchise nadir, slowly developing low draft picks and castoffs into valuable players who took Brooklyn to the postseason last year. The Nets were in a position for their second straight playoff berth when Atkinson was fired, in large part because his voice was not resonating with Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan.

By firing Atkinson, the Nets handed the keys to their future over to that trio of players. Finding a coach with whom they're eager to work is the franchise's top priority this summer.