From New Jersey to L.A., some good gigs are still avaliable

So many job openings, so many reasons.

Name another year when coaches were whacked on the team with the worst record (understandable) and the best record (huh?).

A coach in Atlanta wasn't invited back after his record improved for the sixth straight season. A coach in Chicago was fired after his team rallied and reached the playoffs. And of course, a coach was fired the year after he won the Coach of the Year award (Mike Brown), which has become a curse (watch your back, Scott Brooks).

Logic has never played a role in determining whether a coach stays or goes. Firings are totally at the whims of general managers or owners, who follow their gut or come up with one excuse or another. As Jeff Van Gundy once said: "If they don't get you on your record, they'll get you on relationships."

Oh, and in case you're wondering, Van Gundy is the only candidate not actively seeking employment, electing to remain on TV -- where job security is much better -- at least until his daughter graduates high school. That didn't stop Doug Collins, who sprinted from his chair as a TNT analyst to the Philly job.

If you're keeping track at home, here's the deal: the Hornets, Bulls, Nets, Hawks, Cavaliers and Clippers are looking. The Celtics (Doc Rivers may go TV) and Lakers, once their seasons are over, might be looking. And there's a "maybe" emitting from Miami, where Pat Riley could be getting the itch to slide down from the front office (unless Miami has a bad summer of free agency, at which point Riley will suddenly become allergic to the whole idea).

Some of these openings are directly tied to free agency; the team will hire a coach based on whom they sign this summer. Other openings are being held up until certain candidates are through with the playoffs, namely assistant coach Tom Thibodeau of the Celtics and possibly (though unlikely) Phil Jackson.

The Clippers still haven't filled their position or conducted any meaningful interviews because ... well, that's just how the Clippers roll.

So here's a rundown of the jobs and the teams and the possibilities, based on discussions with members of the coaching fraternity.

Nets: One assistant coach said everyone wants this job, not so much because they want to work in Newark the next two years, but because "everyone thinks it's going to pay well." That's what happens when the owner is worth something like $17 billion and is new to the game. Remember, coaches chase money, too, probably faster than players. The Nets do have a good general manager in Rod Thorn, a budding young center in Brook Lopez and millions to spend this summer and possibly next on free agents. Mike Fratello, a Jersey guy, is said to be thirsting hard for this gig. The Nets might aim higher, though, especially if they add an A-list free agent along with their No. 3 pick in the Draft. Avery Johnson is a strong possibility.

Hornets: They've targeted Thibodeau, a stickler for defense, as their No. 1 guy. The obvious draw here is Chris Paul, healthy and hungry, and a new owner (Gary Chouest) who's willing to spend whatever it takes (unlike George Shinn). There isn't much pressure to win right away in New Orleans, which is advantageous to Thibodeau, who's never been a coach before on this level. He could make his mistakes and still get a pass in the early going. Besides, the Hornets can't do anything significant with the roster until Peja Stojakovic's big contract comes off the books next season.

Bulls: Phil Jackson. Is. Not. Going. Back. The coach they want is Thibodeau, who was general manager John Paxson's first choice a few years ago until he was overruled in favor of Vinny Del Negro. That didn't work out so well. The fear with Thibodeau is that he never coached or played the game, and might find it hard to get respect from certain players (Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who's demanding a coach with previous experience, would never hire Thibodeau.) Well, someone should ask Kevin Garnett, who's been around some coaches. He hearts Thibodeau. Anyway, this job will zoom to the top of the list if the Bulls convince Dwyane Wade or LeBron James to take their money this summer.

Hawks: Dwane Casey worked with GM Rick Sund in Seattle once upon a time, so it's a natural to assume Casey will get the gig. But the Hawks also spoke with Johnson. In any event, the next coach must demonstrate an ability to take a 50-win team to the next level, something Mike Woodson couldn't do. He must also get along with Josh Smith, who has matured but is the most mercurial player in an otherwise sedate locker room. The next coach must be willing to work cheap; Hawks ownership won't pay much, but will toss in an old Dominique Wilkins jersey to sweeten the pot.

Clippers: Don't laugh, but if the moons become aligned, this could turn out to be a pretty good job. The next coach will inherit a solid lineup, complete with the healthy return of last year's No. 1 pick (Blake Griffin), this season's No. 8 pick, and the Southern California lifestyle as well. Oh, and did we mention the Clippers have some coin to spend on free agents? The last coach, Mike Dunleavy, lasted nearly seven seasons, so maybe owner Donald Sterling is becoming more patient. Or perhaps he's losing his touch. They could do worse than walking across the street and getting Jackson's top guy, Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw.

Cavaliers: Ah, here's where politics are hard at work. In almost any normal scenario, Brown would still have a job. But James is a free agent and the Cavs are doing everything necessary to keep him. Not saying LeBron has blood on his hands, but if he insisted Brown stay or else, then we wouldn't be having this discussion. Given how it's tied directly to free agency, this opening might be the last one filled. The Cavs and GM Danny Ferry are just waiting for LeBron to tell them whom to hire. Now that's called power.

Shaun Powell is a veteran NBA writer and columnist. You can e-mail him here and follow him on twitter.

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