The workouts have begun — Xavier shooting guard Jordan Crawford and BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette impressed at auditions for the Nets this week. Now the pace for all other areas, specifically the coaching search, is expected to pick up considerably with the expected transfer of ownership to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.
“Early next week,” was the ownership timeframe estimate by team president Rod Thorn yesterday when the final tenants were to leave the Atlantic Yards site for the Nets’ new home.
Prokhorov’s approval by the NBA Board of Governors is a no-brainer and then Thorn will officially be re-upped. Once that happens, and then especially after the Nets learn their lottery fate, the coaching hunt will dominate.
“It will move along at a faster pace than it has,” Thorn said.
The Nets, who will hold an 18-team, 36-player mass workout June 9-11, have three highly prized picks. The first will be in the top four and then they have Nos. 27 (from Dallas) and 31 (the first pick of the second round). Prokhorov probably will represent the Nets at the lottery.
Crawford, a 6-foot-4 scorer with quickness, and Fredette, a good shooting 6-foot-2 creative point guard, should they choose to remain in the draft (today is their notification withdrawal date), figure to go late first/early second round.
The first two picks virtually are etched in stone: Kentucky’s John Wall then Ohio State’s Evan Turner. That was the consensus months ago, it’s the consensus now. After that, size reigns in Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins, Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors and Baylor’s Ekpe Udoh. Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson is the top small forward.
Who will coach the group? Thorn, acknowledging a short list, said he believes the No. 1 pick would expand the coaching field. The candidates include Jeff Van Gundy, who likely is against returning to coaching this season; Avery Johnson, who could land the Hornets job; assistants such as Boston’s defense guru Tom Thibodeau; a college coach like Villanova’s Jay Wright, who has USA Basketball connections. Thorn has said he would not be opposed to trading a secondary pick as compensation to buy out a coach’s contract. With Prokhorov’s wallet, such a scenario is not impossible.
Thorn has hired every type in the past (experienced guys like Kevin Loughery; former players with assistant experience like Byron Scott; a non-player in Lawrence Frank).