In hiring Avery Johnson to become the next head coach of the Nets, Rod Thorn made a gut decision.

?You talk to people, and it?s a gut decision more than anything else after that,? the Nets president said Thursday of his decision to hire Avery Johnson.

?You want someone who can fill the bill for what you need. No doubt about it, we need to get some pieces. And I think Avery will get the best out of whatever we end up with.?