The Brooklyn Nets’ front office has reportedly expressed concerns about former coach Jacque Vaughn potentially hindering the team’s efforts to secure a star player.
According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, there was mounting frustration within the organization due to Vaughn’s reluctance to establish clear player roles.
Spencer Dinwiddie reportedly discussed the need for an offensive hierarchy with Vaughn before being traded to the Toronto Raptors before the deadline. Star player Mikal Bridges also purportedly advocated for changes to the team’s offensive strategy.
In a somewhat unexpected move, the Nets relieved Vaughn of his duties on Monday. Vaughn, who compiled a 64-65 record during his tenure, including a 21-33 mark this season, faced criticism after the team suffered a humiliating 50-point loss to the Boston Celtics in their final game before the All-Star break.
“At that point, you can’t just brush it off and move on. Maybe if it was a close game, but losing by 50 points…” Bridges remarked, highlighting the glaring issues within the team.
Vaughn’s time in Brooklyn was marked by instability. He was appointed seven games into the 2022-23 season following the dismissal of Steve Nash and inherited a challenging situation.
The team grappled with Kevin Durant’s trade request during the summer, and its relationship with Kyrie Irving was strained due to the latter’s refusal to comply with COVID-19 vaccination protocols, resulting in his absence for a significant portion of the previous season.
By February, both Durant and Irving had successfully engineered trades away from Brooklyn, leaving Vaughn with a roster comprised of disparate pieces acquired in those deals. While Bridges emerged as a standout acquisition, the Nets’ failure to significantly bolster their roster over the summer has contributed to their struggles.
While Vaughn may not have maximized the potential of the roster, it’s evident that this team, with its current composition, is destined for the lottery. Few coaches would likely be able to guide this roster to playoff contention.
While questions may arise regarding whether Vaughn was unfairly shouldering the blame for management’s shortcomings, the reported discontent among players suggests that parting ways with Vaughn was a necessary decision.
