Former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson has emerged as a “strong contender” to join Tyronn Lue’s staff of assistants with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

Lue has already added former NBA guard Chauncey Billups and former Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and head coach Larry Drew.

Atkinson was fired by the Nets in March, shortly before the league suspended play.

He has since been in the running for coaching vacancies with the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets — but the Bulls hired Billy Donovan and the Rockets seem to be moving in a different direction.

Atkinson was an assistant under current Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer when Budenholzer was with the Atlanta Hawks.