HoopsHype.com Rumors

There are some real opportunities for a solid coach to have success next season. This prompted me to ask one of the league's top assistant coaches -- who should be in line for a head-coaching job over the next few years -- to rank the current job openings along with the potential openings from best to worst. This should give you some insight as to how people within the league, including guys who could be interviewing with these teams, view the openings and potential openings. 1. Brooklyn Nets "The Nets have a lot of stuff you want. The owner [Mikhail Prokhorov] has money and he's willing to spend, so you're not worried about shallow pockets. That's huge. The market you're in is huge. You'll always be able to attract free agents because of the market you're in. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching 

"I miss coaching, quite honestly," Van Gundy told me the other day. "I don't miss the travel or the time away from my family, but I do miss the work on the court with the team and the camaraderie of a coaching staff working together trying to get better. Orlando Sentinel

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith told SNY Nets that he expects Billy King to make his next calls about Doc Rivers and Brian Shaw, both of whom are still under contract. NetsDaily

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Media, Brian Shaw, Billy King 

Smith, speaking with Darrel Johnson of SNY, listed Rivers' name first when asked about the Nets priorities. "Expect the Boston Celtics to receive a call for permission to talk to Doc Rivers… Expect Brian Shaw of the Indiana Pacers to get a call," and he also mentioned Larry Brown. He then returned to the man who will lead the search. "Billy King will scan the globe. I’ve known him for over 20 years. He’s not going sit idly by." NetsDaily

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Larry Brown, Billy King 

Steve Luhm: Sloan says Brooklyn has not called so "there's no reason to talk about" a possible reunion with Deron Williams. Twitter @sluhm

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

Nets general manager Billy King was reluctant to rule out any names in his coaching search following the decision to part ways with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo on Sunday. Three days later, that list is starting to be pared down. Phil Jackson, the former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls coach, isn't interested in the position. The Nets have eliminated potential candidates Stan and Jeff Van Gundy as well. Wall Street Journal

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Billy King, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

Those who are being considered include Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, former Nets and Knicks coach Larry Brown, current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. The Nets would need permission from the Celtics to approach Rivers. Wall Street Journal

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown 

Net Daily: Nets didn't discuss executive position with Phil Jackson, says insider. Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson 

Ramona Shelburne: Phil turned down Nets, but source tells ESPN he's still open to possibility of coaching if he "has say in the roster." Twitter @ramonashelburne

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Ramona Shelburne: Phil's been pretty clear. He wants influence over a franchise a la Riley in Miami. Prefers front office, but would coach if he's got power. Twitter @ramonashelburne

Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Pat Riley 

Ramona Shelburne: If he doesn't have influence over franchise, source says Phil might just stay retired for now. Twitter @ramonashelburne

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Net Daily: Despite Phil turndown, #Nets remain "optimistic long term" about coach search Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Mike Dunleavy: Any intimation that Billy [King] and I have had any kind of contact is totally off base. As far as I know the only person that the Nets have contacted has been Phil Jackson and everybody in the world understands that. So anything other than that is not true. HallPass Media

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike Dunleavy 

Mike Dunleavy: Anybody from Brooklyn would want to coach the Brooklyn Nets. It's a great situation: They have a great owner, great management, they are very committed to where they want to go, and that is to win a championship. HallPass Media

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mike Dunleavy 

Royce Young: Tony Allen: "We're going to have to scout Derek Fisher more and see where he was killing us." Twitter @dailythunder

Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, Derek Fisher, Tony Allen 

Phil Jackson will not be coaching the Nets. As first reported by The Post Tuesday, a league source said that Jackson is not looking to coach. The Nets had contacted Jackson in order to gauge his interest in possibly returning to the sidelines and taking over as coach after deciding not to bring back interim coach P.J. Carlesimo. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Phil Jackson has rejected the Brooklyn Nets' overtures to take over as coach, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. Nets general manager Billy King talked with Jackson on Tuesday, and Jackson, the 11-time champion coach, reaffirmed his desire to pursue a broader front-office role over coaching in his return to the NBA. Yahoo! Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Net Daily: The news out of Phil decision is they always wanted a firm no from him before they began calling others. And of course you call him first. Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

The Nets, who fired Avery Johnson in late December and decided not to re-sign interim P.J. Carlesimo after their first-round playoff loss to Chicago, are expected to turn their attention to the coaching candidates not named Jackson now. According to two people with knowledge of the search, that list includes Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, longtime NBA coach and current Southern Methodist University coach Larry Brown, and former Milwaukee and Chicago coach Scott Skiles. USA Today Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Larry Brown, Scott Skiles, Indiana Paces 

If Boston coach Doc Rivers were to part ways with the Celtics, as some have speculated because of the uncertain future of small forward Paul Pierce, then the Nets would have serious interest in him as well. USA Today Sports

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers, Coaching