According to a report on ESPN, the Brooklyn Nets have contacted Phil Jackson about replacing fired coach P.J. Carlesimo.

ESPN cited an unnamed source who told them that after Phil Jackson, the list of current candidates for the Nets head coaching job consists of Larry Brown and Brian Shaw.

Neither Nate McMillan nor brothers Jeff and Stan Van Gundy are on the list, the source continued. That could change if the Nets fail to land one of their top three choices.

In a new development, Boston coach Doc Rivers might be available if the Celtics let him out of his current contract with them. As the Celtics are about to go into rebuilding mode, with the possible retirements of veteran superstars, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Rivers may not want to hang around for several losing seasons before the Celtics can right their ship again.  

Nets general manager Billy King announced Sunday that he would make a call to Jackson, the league's all-time coaching leader with 11 titles. Jackson has reportedly voiced interest in a position similar to the Heat's Pat Riley, who as president has control over most of basketball operations. According to the source, King understands that Jackson is not likely to come to Brooklyn just to coach, but he is open to Jackson having a role in the front office.

Jackson could perhaps join the Nets as the team's president while also getting a slice of ownership. The Nets don't currently have a president of basketball operations, and it's not clear how that role would fit with King's.

Shaw, who is the lead assistant to the Pacers' Frank Vogel, is seen as a bright, young coaching prospect. But, he may not have the cache of a famous coach like Jackson, or Brown.  

Brown, who currently coachs SMU, has a successful and well-known history with King. The two worked together for six years in Philadelphia during the Allen Iverson era, leading the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 2001.

The New York Daily News, meanwhile, reported that Brooklyn native Mike Dunleavy, who most recently was coach and GM of the Clippers in 2010, also is a candidate due to his strong relationship with King.