HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets have talked with John Thompson about coaching the NBA club, and principal owner Lewis Katz is ready to confer with the former Georgetown coach's agent, The Record reported today. However, according to the newspaper, the Nets' No. 1 choice is Phil Jackson and they have offered the former Chicago Bulls coach what is described as one of the richest contracts in the history of sports. Katz was to meet today with Thompson's agent, David Falk, according to a source described by The Record as close to the situation. The meeting would focus on determining the kind of a deal it would take to hire Thompson. Thompson declined comment on the report and referred questions to Falk, whose office said he was not available this morning. The Nets are moving to the next level in their discussions with Thompson because team's ownership believes Jackson ultimately will end up with the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers Nets officials apparently are not unanimous about the possibility of hiring Thompson. Some are pictured as reluctant to hire another college coach following the failure of John Calipari, the former University of Massachusetts coach who was fired after the club won only three of its first 20 games in the recently completed strike-shortened season The Nets were 13-17 under interim coach Don Casey to end the campaign. Thompson, 57, has indirect ties to the Nets and to New Jersey. His agent Falk also represents Nets stars Stephon Marbury, Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn. Thompson's son, John Thompson III, is an assistant coach at Princeton. Thompson, citing personal reasons, resigned from Georgetown on Jan. 8 after leading the Hoyas' program for 26 seasons. In addition to drawing the interest of the Nets, Thompson is considered a candidate to become the Washington Wizards' new coach. -=-=- 