Nets Rumors: Jacque Vaughn to Receive 'A True Shot at Getting' Head Coach Job

Jacque Vaughn has only been the interim coach of the Brooklyn Nets for two games since replacing Kenny Atkinson, but Alex Schiffer of The Athletic reported the team has "every intention of giving Vaughn a true shot at getting the job." 

Atkinson was fired in March following a 28-34 record to start the 2019-20 season. The Nets went 2-0 under Vaughn before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus. 

Brooklyn enters the restarted season in Orlando with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Though advancing in the playoffs would likely help Vaughn's chances of getting a full-time job with the team, Schiffer noted it will be a tough challenge. Both DeAndre Jordan and Spencer Dinwiddie have tested positive for the coronavirus, with Jordan confirming his absence from Orlando.

Dinwiddie told Shams Charania of The Athletic that it's "unclear" whether he will participate in Orlando, while Wilson Chandler has also opted out of playing in the league's restart.

With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving also out with injuries, it leaves the Nets extremely short-handed heading into the resumed season. Only two starters remain from the March 10 win over the Los Angeles Lakers—the last game before the hiatus. Caris LeVert (17.7 PPG) will be the only returning player averaging at least 14 points per game.

It makes it difficult to judge Vaughn, who has been an assistant with the Nets for the past four seasons. His only other head coaching job in the NBA came with the Orlando Magic, and the team struggled to a 58-158 combined record.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times in April, Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were also considered candidates for the Nets' vacancy.