Knicks’ All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony has expressed interest in free agent coach Tom Thibodeau, league sources tell Frank Isola of the New York Daily News:
A source close to Anthony insists that his preferred choice is Tom Thibodeau, a coach Jackson seems to have no interest in speaking to. Remember that the next time someone says or reports that Phil is just doing his due diligence. Yeah right.
Thibodeau, a former Coach of the Year award recipient, was fired last spring after guiding the Chicago Bulls to the Playoffs in each of his five seasons as head coach. Known for his hard-pressed, aggressive style of coaching, Thibodeau joined the Bulls in 2010 and helped transform them into one of the league’s most elite defensive teams during his brief tenure.
In his first two seasons with the team, Thibodeau had an astounding combined record of 112-36 (.756). Since Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Bulls piled up a combined record of 143-103 (.581) in the following three seasons under Thibodeau.
Some question the level of intensity Thibodeau brings, citing that same intensity as a cause for Derrick Rose’s ACL tear in 2012. With 1:12 left in the fourth quarter and Chicago leading Philadelphia by 12, Thibodeau opted to leave Rose in the game, leading to the former MVP going down with a career-altering injury moments later.
After the game, Bulls’ General Manager Gar Forman commented on the questionable decision (via ESPN):
“There is absolutely no issue there. It’s a playoff game. They had cut a lead down to 12 and we’re going to have our guys on the floor making sure that we win the basketball game, especially in that situation.”
While some would be uncomfortable bringing in Tom Thibodeau, a coach who famously played Luol Deng 39 minutes per game in Chicago, aboard, Carmelo Anthony appears to be in his corner.
After an underwhelming 2015-2016 campaign that saw the Knicks finish 32-50 and miss the Playoffs, it appears Phil Jackson and Jim Dolan are now searching for their next head coach. To the surprise of many, the Knicks relieved Derek Fisher of his head coaching duties earlier in the season after spending just two years with the team.
The current Knicks’ coach, Kurt Rambis, is expected to be in the running for a potential stint with the team again next season, league sources told Ian Begley of ESPN:
One of Jackson’s first tasks of the offseason will be to hire a coach. Rambis remains a strong candidate for the job, but, according to league sources, Jackson plans to do his due diligence in the search and consider other candidates who are available.
One name that the Knicks are considering, according to league sources, is former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt. Jackson views Blatt favorably, according to sources. It’s also worth noting that Blatt played basketball with Knicks GM Steve Mills at Princeton. Blatt was fired by the Cavs in January and was replaced by Tyronn Lue.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jackson considered other candidates outside of Blatt as well, though Rambis is still believed to be one of the top candidates.
Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks’ lone All-Star this season, is said to prefer being a part of the coaching search and decision making, vowing his intentions of being more vocal this time around.
However, when your star pushes for something, it forces you to seriously consider what that star is preaching. The last thing Phil Jackson wants is to add Carmelo Anthony to the long list of folks in New York already angry at him. That being said, Frank Isola of the NY Daily News believes Rambis is unlikely to return next season, as a result:
If Carmelo supports Rambis having the interim tag removed he’s keeping that a secret. Carmelo has had ample opportunity to endorse Rambis but instead suggested a full blown coaching search. What does that tell you?
For the second time in three days, Anthony said he’d like to have his voice heard this summer. For most players, that’s code for “hire the coach I want to play for”.
Following the disappointing, forgettable season of the 2015-2016 New York Knicks that just wrapped up with a home loss to Indiana, the Knicks are expected to conduct a broad coaching search in the very near future to determine who will be their next Head Coach. David Blatt, Patrick Ewing, Tom Thibodeau, Brian Shaw, and Kurt Rambis are all amongst the names rumored to be in the mix, up to this very point.
