With Gregg Popovich reportedly coveted by the Nets, Spurs CEO RC Buford said he is “under the assumption” that the five-time champion will remain in San Antonio. However, his statement offered no promises or guarantees.
The Nets’ season ended with a playoff defeat in the first round to defending champion Toronto, which began the search for coaches for general manager Sean Marks. And while Jacque Vaughn is interim manager and Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue is perceived as a co-favorite, Popovich is predictably seen as a top priority.
Popovich is the NBA dean of coaches with a 22-year playoff streak, the longest in league history. But he is also Marks’ mentor. The Nets GM won a ring with Spurs in 2005 as a player and in 2014 as an assistant manager.
Marks took over in Brooklyn two years later, and nine others with Spurs ties followed him. It’s only natural that reports have surfaced that Popovich is Marks ‘number 1 priority in the Nets’ coaching pursuit. Asked about the lingering rumors, Buford told CNBC that Spurs “assume” Popovich is returning.
“Pop has shown nothing but how we will build our team for next year,” Buford said.
And when Popovich himself was asked earlier this month if he would be returning to San Antonio next season, he replied, “Why shouldn’t I?”
Marks has publicly downplayed 71-year-old Popovich’s attraction talk.
“Pop has a job, so I’ll say it,” Marks told WFAN last month. “And, of course, we all know that he is an extraordinary and extraordinary coach and, to be honest, an even better leader. So, I’ll let Pop continue coaching for the Spurs. He owes it to them and they owe it to him. I’m sure he’s happy enough there. “
Vaughn performed well with a 7-3 record as an interim manager, including an astonishing 5-3 before the playoffs when Orlando rebooted despite having a frayed roster devoid of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Lue coached Cleveland to three consecutive NBA Finals and won the 2016 title with Irving. He wants $ 7 million a year according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and is a strong candidate if he doesn’t end up with the 76ers or the Pelicans.
However, no candidate can be stronger than Popovich. The matter will take him out of San Antonio, where he has been for the past two dozen years.
The thing that will make it easy to gauge Popovich’s interest in the Nets is also one of the franchise’s main strengths: the relationship with Marks.
“[Marks] he’s a great friend of the whole family, “Popovich told The Post last year.” We’ve been rooting for his success and the success of their group since he left. He’s obviously very positive and he’s heading in the right direction. , and I couldn’t be more thrilled. “
The Spurs are in need of refurbishment, both their roster (missing playoffs for the first time since 1997) and their infrastructure, the AT&T Center is among the older areas that haven’t undergone a recent makeover.
While Buford called Popovich the “North Star” driving Spurs success, he acknowledged that the venerable manager won’t always be there for them.
“Pop’s vision will be in play long after his presence,” Buford said. “That doesn’t mean he’ll make those decisions, but we’ve all learned together and you won’t stray from a values-based and team building aspect that focuses on culture and working every day and working on it.”
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