Nets to Interview Avery Johnson First

Avery’s spreading his eggs into many baskets, but will it be enough to land a head coaching gig? “The other guy pacing the floor is Avery Johnson, who will meet with Thorn Saturday, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a favorite for the Nets’ job. Indeed, despite his brilliant record in his three-plus seasons in Dallas (a .735 winning percentage), Johnson hasn’t exactly been regarded as a hot commodity, and it is clear that he has asked for a high salary and personnel power from other teams. But he is no longer the top candidate in New Orleans — which is his hometown team — because the ownership transfer to Gary Chouest, his primary advocate, has been delayed. And Johnson now has serious competition for the job in Atlanta, where GM Rick Sund has a relationship with the other frontrunner Dwane Casey.”