HoopsHype.com Rumors

Long before the Nets contacted Phil Jackson on Monday, GM Billy King GM spoke with Brooklyn product Mike Dunleavy about taking over for P.J. Carlesimo. A source familiar with the situation told the Daily News that Dunleavy has emerged as a real darkhorse in a race with higher-profile names, which isn’t a surprise considering his relationship with King. “He may be the leading candidate in Billy King’s mind,” said the source. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike Dunleavy, Billy King 

According to the source, conversations about the Brooklyn job occurred during the season between Dunleavy and King, long before the Nets’ uninspiring Game 7 defeat in the first round of the playoffs. Dunleavy's name initially emerged in December, and gained momentum because of his Brooklyn roots as a star for Nazareth HS in the early ’70s. A day after Avery Johnson was fired, Dunleavy was eager to profess his desire to lead the Nets. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mike Dunleavy 

And although a source confirmed Jackson met with the Nets on Monday and is reportedly Mikhail Prokhorov's top choice, the 11-time champion has stated he’s not interested in coaching and wants a front-office job. King could be opposed to that because it could diminish his role. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, Owners 

The Brooklyn Nets have contacted Phil Jackson about replacing the outgoing P.J. Carlesimo, according to a source. After Jackson, the source says the list of current Nets' candidates consists of Larry Brown and Brian Shaw. Neither Nate McMillan nor brothers Jeff and Stan Van Gundy is on the list, the source said. That could change if the Nets fail to land one of their top three choices. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Larry Brown, Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

Jackson, who has voiced interest in a Pat Riley-type role with an organization, would perhaps join the Nets as the team's president while also getting a slice of ownership. Jackson, who coached Shaw with the Los Angeles Lakers, is known to believe he has a bright coaching future ahead of him, and Shaw would be a likely coaching candidate if Jackson joined the Nets front office. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw 

Adam Zagoria: 'Stan should be a candidate for any job, really' Jeff Van Gundy on his brother and the #Nets opening on ESPN1050 Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

In a good give-and-take with Ryan Ruocco and Stephen A. Smith Monday, Billy King said that contrary to media reports, the next coach of the Brooklyn Nets does not have to be a big name, that ownership isn't requiring that and some of the best coaches in the league weren't marquee names when they started. "I’ve worked with big names. It’s not about a marquee name," he assured Smith. "We want a guy who can do the job the best ... going forward for the long term. Tom Thibodeau was an assistant … our players will be fine with whoever is coach." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Billy King 

Stefan Bondy: Phil Jackson's agent on Nets interest in his client: "At this time, we have no comment." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Nets General Manager Billy King has yet to reach out to the Hall-of-Fame coach. And if he did so, Sloan isn't against the idea of coaching his former All-Star point guard. “I'm open, I would listen,” Sloan told CSNNW.com via phone. “I haven't did the research on their roster, but I would definitely listen if they called.” CSNNW.com

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

PJ Carlesimo: Philosophically, I think Billy and the organization wanted someone that they felt was more in line with their thoughts and the way they felt about the roster and the whole situation going forward. They felt I wasn’t the guy, so they gotta get the guy in here they want. It was a great opportunity, it was a nice job. This franchise is in great shape right now in terms of the move to Brooklyn and Barclays Center and everything is on the uptick right now. SNY Nets

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, PJ Carlesimo 

The names tossed around in Sunday’s media session included Jackson and Sloan, while a source shot down a report that Jeff Van Gundy is a top target — indicating there’s a “98% chance” the Nets don’t even meet with the TV analyst and former Knicks coach. Meanwhile, highly respected Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be allowed to speak with the Nets after Indiana’s season concludes, team president Donnie Walsh told the Daily News. New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh, Jeff Van Gundy 

“I think Brian would be great as a head coach," Walsh said Sunday. “Just as I thought Mark Jackson would be a tremendous coach, I feel the same way about Brian. They both know the game, you can tell they see it like head coaches. And they also know how to relate to players and get them to do what they need to be successful.” New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

King refused to rule out any candidate, other than his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski. “I don’t want the alumni base mad at me,” King joked. But one name he didn’t rule out was Phil Jackson, who has been rumored to be interested in getting involved with basketball again after taking the last two seasons off after leaving the Lakers following the 2011 season. Jackson, however, is thought to be more interested in having a front-office position with a team than going through the day-to-day grind of coaching. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’ll call him,” King said. “I’ll reach out to a lot of people and talk. But, you know, he’s one of the best coaches sitting on the sidelines, so you’ve got to reach out.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike Krzyzewski 

Williams said he “would love” to play again for Jerry Sloan, his old coach in Utah, and when Phil Jackson’s name came up, Williams said, “Who wouldn’t want to play for Phil Jackson?” Regardless of who takes over as head coach, Williams said that after a tumultuous first season in Brooklyn, he and his teammates can take a step forward next year. “We definitely want to improve on this season,” Williams said. “With everything we had, with all the injuries we had, with all the stuff in the media going on with losing a coach, we still finished pretty good. We still finished in the fourth spot [in the East]. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Deron Williams, Jerry Sloan 

Stefan Bondy: I wasn't in the interview room last night but heard PJ Carlesimo thanked the beat writers. Avery Johnson did the same thing day he was fired Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, PJ Carlesimo 

Brooklyn’s biggest free agent is Andray Blatche, who sat down for an interview today and joked that he shouldn’t have to remove his shades – “I’m a free agent, y’all should be buttering me up.” More seriously, Blatche said he plans to re-sign. ... BUT, “I can’t tell you 100 percent yet. …I gotta take my time.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Blatche reiterated that money isn’t such a big deal to him because he was amnestied and is still getting paid by the Wizards. We went over the whole situation in March, when Blatche said he’d be inclined to take less money just to stick it to his former team. “He’s not going to make more money,” Billy King said Sunday. “Hopefully he likes the situation and wants to be here.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

The Nets will not have salary-cap space and do not own Blatche’s Bird Rights. But the enigmatic 26-year-old is thankful the Nets let him revive his career after he was waived last offseason by the Wizards, and both Blatche and general manager Billy King said they hope to see him back in Brooklyn next season. “That’s the plan,” Blatche said. “I’m not sure yet right now. I can’t tell you 100 percent yet, but that’s the plan for me.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Unless Blatche gets a deal with at least a guaranteed third year, what he makes the next two seasons mostly just offsets the Wizards’ salary commitments. Blatche has said he is not inclined to make things easier for his former employer, and added yesterday he might take less money to stay in a good situation in Brooklyn. “Yeah, I thought about that idea. I like it here, I got my second chance here and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens,’’ he said. “With the money situation, that makes it easier for me to stay here. I don’t have to take nothing huge. I can take less. It’s going to be based on what’s best for me.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Stefan Bondy: Billy King said today he plans to bring Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic onto the roster next season. Bogdanovic was 2nd round pick in 2011. Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Billy King, Bojan Bogdanovic