Nets Fire Jacque Vaughn; Rockets' Draft Odds Improve?
The Brooklyn Nets are making a change to their coaching staff on Monday.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets are firing head coach Jacque Vaughn after a 21-33 start to the season, which culminated in a 50-point loss to the Boston Celtics in the final game before the All-Star Break.
The Nets currently have the eighth-worst record in the NBA and are 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference.
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Firing Vaughn bodes well for the Houston Rockets and their chances to move up in the NBA Draft.
As part of the infamous James Harden trade in January 2021, the Rockets were sent significant draft capital from the Nets. Harden was set to team up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but the experiment was short-lived, and just over two years later, all three superstars were out of town.
The Rockets currently own the Nets' 2024 first-round pick, 2025 first-round swap, 2026 first-round pick and 2027 first-round swap -- all of which are unprotected.
With the Rockets' draft capital attached to the Nets' success, Brooklyn firing Vaughn could signal a rise for Houston in the draft.
The Nets are 2.5 games "ahead" of the Hawks for the No. 8 pick and are 2.5 games back of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 selection. If the Nets continue to perform poorly under a new interim coach, it could mean the Rockets have a greater chance to earn a higher pick in this June's draft.
