League sources told Bleacher Report it was [Jacque] Vaughn's negotiations with [David] Griffin that derailed the Nets coach from joining the Pelicans.

Source: Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

ANALYSIS: Vaughn withdrew his name from the Pelicans' head coaching search, and the franchise instead opted to hire Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green, who will be formally announced as the head coach this week, per Fischer. 

Fischer added that during negotiations, Griffin conveyed that he wanted serious control over the coaching staff hires under Vaughn:

"In those talks," Fischer writes, "which included a dinner in Chicago, Griffin previewed the same level of influence he has utilized throughout the executive's tenure in New Orleans, where members of Van Gundy's coaching staff and Alvin Gentry's before his often mentioned Griffin's preferred involvement in areas such as minutes, rotations and skill development, primarily for the players he has drafted since 2019. With Vaughn, sources said, Griffin had specific ideas to fill out the coach's entire assistant group, envisioning Bucks assistant Charles Lee as the associate head coach, plus a starting backcourt of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis."

Per the story, New Orleans reached out to former coach and NBA TV analyst Sam Mitchell when Vaughn withdrew, and he should still expect to be considered as an assistant coach tatget. Fred Vinson is also expected to remain on staff as an assistant.