As the Knicks‘ head coaching search continues, presumed frontrunner Tom Thibodeau has received an endorsement from a former Knicks All-Star, as Adam Zagoria of Forbes writes. Patrick Ewing praised Thibodeau during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio with hosts Frank Isola and Sarah Kustok.
“I think Tom’s a great coach,” Ewing said. “I had the opportunity to (play for him), him being on the (Knicks’) staff when I played, and also work with him. He’s been around for a lot of years, he knows the game in and out. He’s gonna do everything that he needs to do in terms of having his team prepared to play every night. I think he’d be a great candidate for that job.”
Although Thibodeau is just one of 11 candidates being considered by the Knicks, reports last month indicated that he was viewed as a favorite for the job. Zagoria also hears from multiple sources that New York is expected to hire someone with previous head coaching experience.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- The Knicks’ coaching candidates had an initial round of conversations with a group that included president of basketball operations Leon Rose, general manager Scott Perry, and VP of basketball and strategic planning Brock Aller, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Each candidate will have a more in-depth conversation with the team during its second round of meetings, Begley adds.
- According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, two of the Knicks’ head coaching interviews took place on Thursday, with the team talking to Jason Kidd and Spurs assistant Will Hardy. Those interviews were why the Knicks didn’t take part in the NBA’s Thursday conference call with its bottom eight teams about a possible Chicago campus for offseason mini-camps and exhibition games.
- Speaking of that proposed Chicago campus, the Knicks aren’t fully on board with that plan, according to Berman, who notes that the club doesn’t have much interest in playing formal games this offseason, especially since many veterans on the roster will be free agents and likely wouldn’t participate. New York is one of a handful of those bottom eight teams that would prefer to hold OTAs in its own home market to evaluate young players.
- French forward Louis Labeyrie, a second-round pick in the 2014 NBA draft, has agreed to extend his contract with Valencia in Spain for at least two more seasons, as Dario Skerletic of Sportando relays. The Knicks have held Labeyrie’s NBA rights since ’14, but it seems increasingly unlikely that the 28-year-old will come stateside.
As expected，Knicks make the biggest noises so far
The biggest question is
Can the Knicks succeed in free agent market?
Knicks need to prove they can build a competent roster. They don’t have the ammo necessary to pull off a Anthony Davis or Paul George trade, nor should they, to lure a free agent to the Knicks.
They don’t have a young and upcoming roster to attract free agents either.
They need to prove they can build a winner with what they have available.
Starts with drafting a PG
I’d keep Barrett at SG
I mean you can shoot for the sky and try to lure Heyward but I’d go with Derrick Jones Jr on age and upside to fill SF.
Bring back Marcus Morris at PF or if you believe in Christian Wood I’d make an invest.
Then fill out the roster with defense and shooting.
I am not sure if it works
Offer 1 year one million contract to Jason
If he brings Anthony Davis and Giannis on free agent market, Rose offer him 4 years contract at 100 million
What???!
So, Jason Kidd agrees to come for ONE year, knowing that if Giannis doesn’t follow in 2021 he doesn’t have a job?! Why in god’s green earth would he agree to that?
You are absolutely the worst poster on this site.
He doesn’t get that this was last summer’s strategy that got them into this mess, except it was Irving & Durant not Giannis & AD. Or that it is rare when FAs are signed to trade later… a fail with Pat Riley & the Heat. Sullivan might be very young, like 9, with little memory of even last year. He does read but takes no note of the source.
Enough with the Thibs talk. If he wants to come to NY he would of signed already. Thibs more than likely waiting for the Nets or Rockets job to open up. Stop wasting my teams time.
Can’t sign a contract not offered (yet).
But I’d rather see a younger coach who can grow with the young core. Kinda like a Brad Stevens/Kenny A scenario.
Committing to that would show commitment to an actual rebuild that the biz-side can sell.
I’d hire coach after signing 2 of top 6 free agents
Step 1
To figure out if Knicks are wearing the win now hat
I can’t see Thibs being the head coach in Houston. He was a good assistant here 15 years ago, but his style of play is just too different from the Rockets.
Thibs is the complete opposite of D’Antoni. The team isn’t built for Thibs.
Thibs is fine, but about the 22+8 restart plan: The basketball zeitgeist in NYC surrounding the league offices and media centers located there is different from the basketball zeitgeist everywhere else that supports an NBA team.
Most people want to see their team… except in NYC. Disinterest in a restarting effort there is not about the Knicks having FAs or not enough money; it’s the snarls thrown their way from NYers.
Not sure Silver ever got that.
Can’t blame Labeyrie for wanting to stay in Valencia instead of coming to NYC… I mean a beautiful city with so much to do in the Med, real hard to beat the lifestyle, right? I too would stay in Valencia!
Knicks FA are Taj, Payton, Portis, Ellington all on team options. Dotson is FA, Trier was let go. They don’t want to play. Cause team will be significantly different next yr. Randle will probably be moved too. Their focus is all about the draft. And three picks. Thibs hasn’t been offered a contract. Miller was just intern coach. Knicks are just going thru process. Best they do it. Nothing else to do. Probably get ast coaches from this too. Thibs has to be favorite. They are not signing rookie coach after Fizdale debacle. Miller will go back to bench. I’m good with Thibs. I’m more concerned about draft. And would like to have a coach signed before draft.