Kenny Atkinson was formally introduced as the next coach of the Brooklyn Nets a couple of weeks ago and he’s going to be the first coach in a new regime for the Nets. Under new general manager Sean Marks, the Nets hope to become a respectable franchise once again, a franchise that will have some influences from the San Antonio Spurs coaching tree.
While both Atkinson and Marks stressed the importance of the Nets making a name for themselves outside of their old stomping grounds, they both noted that their previous employers will be strong influencers and their mindset going forward.
Atkinson has a background in the NBA as a point guard guru of sorts stemming from his stellar player development history. He was the man that famously led the ‘Linsanity’ charge as a member of the New York Knicks bench a few years ago and he was recently on the Atlanta Hawks sideline, helping the development of guys like Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder.
So how important is the point guard position? It appears it’s at the top of the list for Atkinson.
With the new rumors swirling about the possibility of Jeff Teague being shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers in a package centered around him and Nerlens Noel, a question arises. What point guards could Atkinson possibly work with?
If Teague is indeed on the move, that all but eliminates him from contention this year but some free agent point guards do include unrestricted free agents Mike Conley, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings and restricted free agent Jordan Clarkson. The one point guard that presents quite possibly the most intriguing option for Atkinson is Jeremy Lin, who can decline his player option just after his one season small resurgence with the Charlotte Hornets.
The all important point guard position could be exactly where the Nets begin their progress back towards relevance.
