The Nets are close to completing contract extensions with head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The agreements are expected to be signed in the near future. The news doesn’t come as a surprise, since Atkinson is a prime candidate for Coach of the Year. Brooklyn has a .500 record with four games remaining and currently holds the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.
Atkinson, 51, has been Brooklyn’s head coach for the past three seasons. He took over a complete rebuild in New York, helping the Nets improve each of the past two seasons.
Before his stint in Brooklyn, Atkinson served as an assistant with both the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. He’s now one of the better coaching stories around the Association.
This season, Atkinson has led the Nets into contention for a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. General manager Sean Marks and Atkinson have worked together to remake the franchise through deft personnel decisions, strong player development and a reshaped organizational environment.
The Nets are 39-39 and fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Atkinson had improved from 20 to 28 victories in his first two seasons.
Brooklyn is armed with cap space and has been mentioned as a contender for Kyrie Irving. They have a nice core of emerging players like D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris and Carris LeVert.
No word on when the Nets will extend GM Sean Marks. Marks and Atkinson were giving four year deals in 2016 after Billy King and Lionel Hollins were dismissed. At the time, the contracts were the lowest or near lowest in the NBA.
The Nets have already lost one key member of their staff. The Sydney Kings of the Australian NBL have hired Long Island Nets head coach Will Weaver. In addition, the Nets have granted the Pelicans permission to interview assistant GM Trajan Langdon for their open job.
