Lionel Hollins Fired; Billy King Out as Nets GM

In a stunning series of moves Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets have fired head coach Lionel Hollins and demoted general manager Billy King within the organization.

Hollins was in his second season at the helm of the Nets. They were 48-71 during his tenure. King has been with the Nets since the summer of 2010. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season and will work in another role until then.

Assistant coach Tony Brown will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and the team has yet to announce a replacement GM.

“After careful consideration, I’ve concluded that it’s time for a fresh start and a new vision for the direction of the team,” Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement. “By making this decision now, it enables our organization to use the rest of the season to diligently evaluate candidates with proven track records. It’s clear from our current state of affairs that we need new leadership.’’

Prokhorov will be in New York for Monday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs. A press conference is scheduled for 11AM at Barclays Center to discuss the moves.

Was this inevitable? Yes, but the timing was a bit odd. Normally, this type of housecleaning would occur at the end of the season, not 37 games in. Nevertheless, the Nets are free-falling, so this absolutely had to be done. Saturday night’s blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons left them with a 10-27 record and they still have no reason to tank with their 2016 first round draft pick going unprotected to the Boston Celtics.

One of the few things the Nets do have going for them is that Prokhorov is not afraid to spend money. I believe that he will spend whatever it takes to bring the right GM/head coach in. Whoever does come in has their work cut out for them in trying to turn this team around.

The roster has a couple of nice pieces in center Brook Lopez and forward Thaddeus Young, but the new general manager could attempt to trade one or both of them in order to acquire some assets.

This looks like the Nets have hit rock bottom. Hopefully for them and their stunned fan base, there’s nowhere to go but up from here.