The New York Knicks fired Jeff Hornacek on Thursday after two seasons with the team, and the Knicks have quickly begun the search for his replacement. After a somewhat vast list of candidates linked to the Knicks surfaced, the New York front office has reportedly started to set meetings.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks have plans to meet with former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt, recently fired Memphis head coach Dave Fizdale, and 2016-17 NBA G League — then D-League — Coach of the Year Jerry Stackhouse.
Reports revealed that the team also reached out to Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy to gauge their interest in filling the head coaching vacancy.
Wojnarowski reports that the Knicks were granted, by the Los Angeles Clippers, permission to speak with assistant coach Mike Woodson. Woodson coached the Knicks during the 2012-2013 season, leading the team to a 54-28 season and a playoff series win. The Knicks have yet to reach any similar success since Woodson was fired in 2014.
ESPN reports that even though they have a litany of candidates and meetings, team President Steve Mills and the front office will continue to expand their search.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry believes the allure of the New York market and Madison Square Garden will allow the team to have a wide-ranging host of coaching options from which to choose.
Following from ESPN,
“I think this is a very desirable place and job, and I think a lot of candidates will see and understand the vision that we have, the type of people that we are,” Perry said earlier this week. “In conjunction with the city of New York and the historical significance of the New York Knicks, this will be an attractive job for a lot of coaches and [there] will be a lot of interest in this job.”
New York started the season with much promise after trading away Carmelo Anthony and focusing on the development of franchise star Kristaps Porzingis. The organization’s plans to make a push for the postseason quickly shifted gears after Porzingis suffered an ACL tear, ending his season. The team is now focused on getting Porzingis back healthy and developing their young roster.
