Ime Udoka Reportedly Sent Multiple Inappropriate Messages to Celtics Female Employees

From the sounds of things, suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka may not be out of work for long.

Per multiple reports, he is actually about to be hired by the Nets after the team decided to fire Steve Nash on Tuesday.

Should Udoka be hired, however, it is sure to come with some controversy — as he was suspended for what the Celtics described as an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.

Along with that, per a NetsDaily source, Udoka repeatedly sent inappropriate messages to Celtics female employees, another reason behind the yearlong ban handed down by the organization.

An independent law firm hired by the Celtics also found that Udoka used crude language in dialogue with a “female subordinate” before the start of an improper workplace relationship between the two, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“This felt right, but there’s no clear guidelines for any of this,” Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said at a press conference announcing the suspension in September, via Wojnarowski. “It’s conscience and gut feel. … We collectively came to this and got there but it was not clear what to do but it was clear something substantial needed to be done, and it was.”

Udoka, 45, led the Celtics to the Finals in his first season as a head coach. Before that, he spent a year as an assistant under Nash with the Nets. And prior to that, he served as an assistant under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for seven years.

Udoka was apologetic about his suspension in a prepared statement prior to the season.

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” he said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

Prior to his coaching career, Udoka was a small forward with the Lakers in 2004, then spent time with the Knicks, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Kings from 2006-11. He also played professionally overseas.

Nash, 48, a former back-to-back NBA MVP as a point guard with the Suns, compiled a 94-67 record overall in two-plus seasons with the Nets, his first job as an NBA head coach.