In a rapidly unfolding series of events, the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly planning to hire suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.
The Nets and head coach Steve Nash mutually decided to part ways early Tuesday, according to reporting from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Celtics had suspended Udoka late in the offseason for an improper relationship with a female staffer compounded by unwanted comments by the former Nets assistant coach. During the summer, Brooklyn star forward Kevin Durant demanded the ouster of Nash and general manager Sean Marks as a condition of retracting his trade request.
Now the Nets are poised to pick up the tab for Boston’s problem, and the Celtics are all too happy to let them do so. The Celtics “granted the Nets permission to speak to Udoka and will allow him to leave freely,” per Charania.
Woj: Nets, Nash part ways; Suspended Boston Celtics’ head coach Ime Udoka among expected targets https://t.co/EDs5N99NND
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 1, 2022
Per the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the team does not plan to seek compensation for Udoka’s release as happened in the case of Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013.
It could be a sign the team is satisfied with simply removing a potential legal fight over Udoka’s contract in a season they hope to contend for a title under a replacement they believe in, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.
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