Nets assistant Jacque Vaughn withdraws from head coaching searches

Nets assistant Jacque Vaughn has elected to withdraw his name from the ongoing head coaching searches around the NBA, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Vaughn cites family reasons, including the opportunity to spend more time with his two teenage seasons, as the motivator for his decision. The expectation is that he’ll return to Steve Nash's staff in Brooklyn for the 2021-22 season.

Three teams – the Pelicans, Wizards and Magic – are still seeking new head coaches. However, there weren't reports suggesting that Washington and Orlando were considering Vaughn for their respective vacancies.

New Orleans, on the other hand, was said to have Vaughn high on its list of candidates. A report last week suggested that his candidacy for the Pelicans’ job was gaining traction, and a more recent report tabbed him as a potential front-runner.

If Vaughn was their preferred candidate, the Pelicans will now have to turn to other options. Bucks assistant Charles Lee and New Orleans’ own assistant Fred Vinson are among those believed to be in the mix.