The Brooklyn Nets have elevated assistant coach Jacques Vaughn to head coach, removing the interim tag, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania and staff.
“The Nets changed course from their initial plan to hire suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka due to several factors,” writes Charania, citing multiple sources with direct knowledge of the decision-making of the team’s front office.
“These factors include an investigation and due diligence process by the Nets into the suspended coach taking longer than initially expected,” added the Athletic reporter.
Charania also cited “the outcry after word of their plan became known to people outside and inside the organization.”
He also cites the “short- and long-term question marks around the team’s ability to contend in the Eastern Conference as a result of the indefinite suspension of Irving.”
Celtics camp invitee Jake Layman finds home for 2022-23 season with Spain’s Bàsquet Manresa https://t.co/cSfRNeFjme
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 9, 2022
Should the Celtics and Udoka part ways over the summer through some kind of mutual agreement, nothing would prevent Brooklyn (or any team) from hiring Udoka then.
Doing so might create less of a cloud over the move provided the former Nets assistant can find a way to show contrition that might resonate among those cited by Charania as being opposed to such a move inside and outside the team, presuming additional details do not further complicate the situation.
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