Duke's Mike Krzyzewski declined the chance to interview for the Nets' head- coaching position, but according to the New York Daily News, New Jersey could be eyeing Celtics' associate head coach Tom Thibodeau to fill the vacancy.
Nets president Rod Thorn would like to have a new coach in place before the June 24 draft.
"You'd like to have some input from your coach," Thorn told the Daily News. "And what kind of coach you end up hiring may affect the way you draft."
Thibodeau has helped turn the Celtics into one of the top defensive teams in the league in his three years with Boston. The C's have made the playoffs and won at least 50 games in each year of his tenure.
The Celtics added Thibodeau to their coaching staff on Aug. 30, 2007, a move that made Celtics head coach Doc Rivers happy.
"I've admired Tom as a coach for a long time," Rivers said after the announcement. "It's good to have him on my side."
Thibodeau began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Salem State College (Mass.) in 1981 before moving on to Harvard, where he coached for four years. He entered the NBA as an assistant coach in 1989, and has spent time with the Timberwolves, Supersonics, Spurs, 76ers, Rockets, Knicks and Celtics.
Thibodeau has been interviewed for NBA head-coaching positions in the past, including the 76ers last year and the Suns in 2007.
