Saturday's announcement that the Brooklyn Nets and Kenny Atkinson had parted ways was apparently a mutual decision. However, the head coach seemingly pushed for his departure, a league source told Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill.
The report echoes the sentiment from ESPN's Zach Lowe and Kevin Arnovitz, who said Saturday that Atkinson's departure had been brewing since the Nets signed superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last summer.
With Atkinson now out of the way, Irving prefers his former Cleveland Cavaliers bench boss Tyronn Lue as the Nets' next coach, according to Goodwill. Lue is currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jacque Vaughn has taken the reins of the Nets on an interim basis.
The Nets were lauded around the NBA after hiring Atkinson and general manager Sean Marks in 2016 thanks to their subsequent smart, organic roster construction. However, there was a departure from that approach last summer, with the team signing two superstar free agents in Durant and Irving - both of whom are currently injured and will not play again this season.
Irving "soured early" on Atkinson, sources told Goodwill, although the feeling was reportedly mutual. The 52-year-old coach wasn't fond of coaching Irving based on what he saw this season and preferred to make a move now rather than later.
