This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
New York • The Brooklyn Nets reached an agreement in principle Wednesday with Lionel Hollins to become their coach, moving quickly after the departure of Jason Kidd.
The deal with the former Memphis Grizzlies coach comes two days after the Nets made a trade with Milwaukee to allow Kidd out of his contract so the Bucks could hire him.
Nets general manager Billy King and his assistants then met with Hollins on Monday night and again Tuesday before agreeing to the deal. Terms were not disclosed.
"I want to thank the Nets ownership and Billy for this opportunity," Hollins said in a statement. "It has been a long process to get back into the league, and I believe that Billy and I will have a very successful working relationship. Brooklyn has firmly established itself as a franchise that is committed to winning, and I eagerly look forward to becoming part of that culture and building on the success of the past two playoff appearances."
The Nets will introduce Hollins at a press conference Monday.
Hollins led Memphis to 56 victories and the 2013 Western Conference finals before he and the Grizzlies parted ways. The Nets considered him last year after firing P.J. Carlesimo before hiring Kidd. He was the only known candidate the Nets interviewed this time. King said he had reached out to one other person who chose not to pursue the job.
"If you look at [his] track record and what he did in Memphis, he was able to go in there and take a team, added some veterans and they continually got better," King said Tuesday. "He developed some young guys, [Marc] Gasol, some big guys."
Around the league
Bucks • New Milwaukee owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens admit there may have been errors in the process of acquiring Kidd from the Nets as their new head coach. Kidd, who was formally introduced Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, says there were no hard feelings regarding his surprising departure from Brooklyn, where he won 44 games as a first-year head coach.
Celtics • Avery Bradley has agreed to a $32 million, four-year deal to remain with Boston. Agent Mitchell Butler confirmed the deal for Bradley, the No. 19 pick in the 2010 draft.
Magic • Orlando has signed both of its first-round selections — fourth overall pick Aaron Gordon and 10th overall pick Elfrid Payton, whom the Magic acquired in a draft night trade with Philadelphia. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Rockets • Prized free agent Carmelo Anthony visited Houston and was greeted with images of him in two different uniforms of the franchise — a day after visiting the Chicago Bulls. A video board outside the Toyota Center depicted one image of Anthony in Houston's white uniform with red lettering and another in a retro red and yellow uniform. Between the pictures was Anthony's logo with the word 'Melo' in it.