The Nets appear to be wavering on hiring Ime Udoka as coach after others have urged team owner Joe Tsai not to make the move, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Udoka, 45, remains the coach of the Celtics, though he is suspended for the season after what the team determined he had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.
Per multiple reports, the Celtics would be willing to allow Udoka to leave if he were to find another job. Last week, both ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Nets and Udoka were putting the final touches on a deal.
But there are some “strong voices” telling Tsai not to make the move, per Stein. This follows several reports, including one of Ethan Strauss of Substack, that indicated Udoka could be done as a head coach in the NBA.
Udoka led the Celtics to the Finals in his first season as an NBA head coach. Before that, he was an assistant under Steve Nash with the Nets for a season. Nash was fired last week.
“This very much is probably for this Nets’ group, this iteration, this core, this is probably the last ditch effort to make this work,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said of the Nets potentially hiring Udoka, via RealGM.
NetsDaily reported Udoka also sent repeated inappropriate messages to multiple female staffers.
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.”
The Nets have been making most of their news off the court lately, with star point guard Kyrie Irving having been suspended by the team for at least five games. We have the latest on that story right here.
Those challenges and more appear to be why the Nets may be backing away from bringing in Udoka, Stein relayed.
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