Reports: Former Blazers Coach Nate McMillan In The Mix For Nets Job

Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Avery Johnson, who was fired by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reports on Twitter...

Source says after Phil Jackson, Nets list includes Mike Dunleavy, Nate McMillan, JVG and Jerry Sloan, tho Sloan called a "long shot."

I Just spoke with Jerry Sloan. He refused to comment on Nets or D-Will. All he would say is that he's open to coaching in NBA again.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports...

Former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan also is available and has a strong relationship with [Deron] Williams from their time together with Team USA. McMillan's emphasis on defense is well known, but it isn't clear how his low-possession, ball-control offensive style would be any better for Williams than what Johnson had been able to devise.

Sam Amick of USA Today Sports also included McMillan on his early list of candidates.

Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan has ties to Williams, the Nets point guard, from their time together with Team USA and is available after being fired in March.

According to Bovada.LV, here are the early odds.

Who will be the next Full time Coach of the Brooklyn Nets?
Kelvin Sampson 2/1
Phil Jackson 3/1
Larry Brown 4/1
Mike Dunleavy 5/1
Nate McMillan 6/1
Jeff Van Gundy 13/2
P.J. Carlesimo 9/1
Jerry Sloan 12/1

Former Blazers coach P.J. Carlesimo has been promoted from Nets assistant coach to interim coach until the organization finds a new full-time guy.

McMillan was fired by the Blazers back in March and has not taken a new NBA job. McMillan interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats' job that eventually went to Mike Dunlap. McMillan interviewed with the Orlando Magic and was reportedly a "top choice" but Jacque Vaughn took over for the fired Stan Van Gundy instead. In November, McMillan was linked to a possible assistant coach's job with the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike D'Antoni, following Mike Brown's dismissal.

McMillan did serve as an assistant coach for USA Basketball, which won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter