Lawrence Frank was canned after the New Jersey Nets started the season 0-16. Frank's assistant, Tom Barrise took over the team for its game against the Los Angeles Lakers. That resulted in the NBA record tying 17th straight defeat. Barrise is not expected to remain the interim coach of the Nets. Team President, Rod Thorn and other top officials are apparently having meetings today to discuss the position. Thorn has said he has a long list of candidates. Really???

Are there really that many people out there that would want this job? Its more likely the list is people that Thorn would consider contacting. I personally believe the decision will come down to three candidates.

The obvious and easiest choice would be Kiki Vandeweghe. He is currently the Nets general manager. According to reports however, Vandeweghe has mixed feelings on taking the coaching position. Could it be that he knows the organization is a mess right now and its basically a lose/lose job?

Assitant coach, John Loyer will likely be considered as well. I've read that Loyer is one of the more respected assistants in the league. He, like Vandeweghe, knows the team well. Although, maybe Thorn and the rest of the front office would rather have an entire new voice and idea in the locker room.

Former New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing has expressed interest in the job. Ewing was hurt when his former team did not give him and consideration for their opening. He is now still an assistant with the Orlando Magic. Many people have credited Ewing with turning Dwight Howard into one of the top centers in the NBA. Being a local guy who still lives in New Jersey, signing Ewing would be a good public relations move.

The problem here is, no matter who is signed, there is no gaurantee it will last past this season. With Nets ownership getting ready to change hands, nobody seems to really know what is going on. Other names that have surfaced are: Avery Johnson, Dwane Casey, Eric Musselman, Sam Mitchell, P.J. Carlesimo, Reggie Theus, Terry Porter, and Del Harris.

It will be interesting to see which way Rod Thorn and the Nets go in regards to this coaching job. If the team can't get healthy, it won't matter much. Lawrence Frank may have lost the team during this record losing streak, but the team was lost to injury long before that happened.

I can tell you one thing, whoever gets this job, it may just be the hardest job they have ever taken.