Nets assistant Jacque Vaughn, who has a career 65-161 head-coaching record, withdrew his name from the Pelicans coaching search.
Reportedly, Vaughn, who has been with the Nets for five years, didn’t want a head-coaching job at this moment because he wanted to be close to his two teenaged sons.
That means Vaughn is expected to stay on Steve Nash’s staff. Nash has already lost Ime Udoka to the Celtics. Vaughn replaced Kenny Atkinson as Nets interim head coach during the 2019-20 season.
Nets top assistant Mike D’Antoni interviewed for the Blazers and Pelicans jobs. The Blazers hired Chauncey Billups. D’Antoni still is in the mix in New Orleans, which is likely finding a coach that will please Zion Williamson’s disgruntled family.
Raja Bell, Nash’s teammate in Phoenix has been mentioned as a possibility to replace Udoka, who was the Nets’ defensive coach. Nash approached Bell, who once worked in player development for the Cavaliers and is a former NBA all-defensive team guard, about the job a year ago.
Jarron Collins, a Warriors assistant, and Alvin Gentry are other names from Nash’s past. Nash was outcoached by Bucks’ Mike Budenholzer in the final two games of the Nets’ crushing second-round series loss.