Former LeBron James’ Coach Might Seek Hefty Paycheck From Brooklyn Nets

Following poor performances in the Bubble, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Philadelphia 76ers have fired their coaches. Both are seeking the same man, Tyronn Lue, to take over the helm. But the third team gunning for him is the Brooklyn Nets. Having a stable squad compared to the other two, the Nets might be in the lead to sign him.

At present, Lue is an assistant under Doc Rivers at the Los Angeles Clippers. After winning the title with Cleveland as a head coach, Lue was fired in October 2018 following a poor start to the season. Not many coaches can boast of having an NBA title on their resume, and Lue is one of the few.

That title could be one of the reasons why Lue is seeking big pay to take over on a new team for the upcoming season. Keith Pompey from the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Lue “wants $7 million per season to take over an NBA team, according to a league source.” 

Should the Brooklyn Nets pay the big bucks to Tyronn Lue?

The Nets have been looking for a head coach since March when they fired Kenny Atkinson. Since then Jacque Vaughn has been the interim coach, who has impressed the players.

According to the New York Post, Caris LeVert said, “It’d be huge. If you ask anybody who was a part of JV’s two games before the cut-off and then the whole experience here, they’ll tell you he’s very deserving of the job. He’s done a great job down here winning with less.”

He was showered with similar praise from Tyler Johnson and Garrett Temple.

While Vaughn may have their support, the stars’ opinion always makes the most difference. Kyrie Irving, who reportedly was the reason Kenny Atkinson got fired, will have a big say regarding the coaching situation. So will Kevin Durant. Irving has already worked with Lue at the Cavs and is reportedly interested in bringing him to Brooklyn.

But Lue is asking for a sizeable sum. That amount would make him one of the best-paid coaches in the league. Lue is often criticized for his laid-back coaching style back from his Cleveland days. But it did ultimately lead to a championship. If the Nets can get their first title in franchise history with Lue at the helm, nobody will be complaining.