Nets president Rod Thorn strongly denied the team is pursuing Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
“I have not reached out to anybody about Phil Jackson through any back channels, front channels, side channels or any channels,” Thorn said today, refuting an ESPN.com report that the Nets were trying to lure the 10-time championship coach through “back channels.”
Speculation is that new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is desperate to make a big splash and that would certainly be the case if he could get Jackson to switch coasts.
“You can’t contact guys under contract. But I’m sure given Mr. Prokhorov’s stature, anytime something comes up with money involved, he’ll be discussed,” Thorn said.
Jackson is in the final year of his Lakers contract and owner Jerry Buss wants him to take a pay cut from the $12 million he is making this year. Even if Jackson leaves Los Angeles, the Cavaliers and the Bulls would be considered the favorites to land him if he decided to continue coaching.
Jackson got his coaching start with the Nets serving as a player-assistant under Kevin Loughery for two seasons from 1978-80.