The next Knicks coach...

[Greathusky]

From the SI page:

Would Jackson hire Kerr? Certainly. But Kerr could have more attractive options, if the Golden State Warriors fire Mark Jackson or if the Los Angeles Lakers dump Mike D'Antoni. He could also wait another year to make the leap.

The obvious names keep surfacing—Brian Shaw, Kurt Rambis, Derek Fisher, Scottie Pippen, Jim Cleamons—because of their ties to Jackson. It's all educated guesswork.

While we're educatedly guessing, here are two more names to consider: Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie, who have both made quick impressions in the college ranks.

Hoiberg never played for Jackson, but did play in the triangle offense for the Bulls, under Tim Floyd. Hoiberg has made a name for himself at Iowa State and Jackson "thinks highly of him," according to one source. Jackson also likes Ollie, who guided Connecticut to the 2014 national championship.

 

[pepband99]

Yeah. I've heard this drumbeat starting too. It's worrying, but you would have to think that WM is pretty busy ripping up KO's deal for a much better one, and that makes this a little less concerning.

That being said, what salary is needed to justify walking into the Knick trainwreck? 5M/year? 6? It might be that high.

 

[metsfan2323]

Most people think Kerr to the Knicks is already a done deal.

 

[CTGoonie]

Anyone else see Spike lee hug Ollie before the Iowa state game? Certainly seemed to know each other well.

 

[ktuck911]

KO belongs in Storrs, CT.. Let's let sleeping dogs lie... I think Mark Jackson would be a solid fit for the Knicks.

 

[huskyblooz]

With their salary cap issues, I wouldn't go near New York until Stoudamire's contract expires..
Kentucky has more cap space!

 

[nomar]

KO's a smart guy. If he wanted to coach in the NBA, it wouldn't be with the Knicks.

Can you imagine from going from the top of the world to that headache?

I could see a job like the OKC one tempting him a bit, but the Knicks? Only a masochist or someone with an ego the size of Saturn wants that. Or Steve Kerr, apparently.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Yep, the next Knicks coach doesn't matter much, its the one after that. They need 2-3 years to dig out from under the Amare mess and whatever comes of the Carmelo debacle. Plus working for Phil Jackson is nice, but working for James Dolan is not.

 

[Dooley]

The Knicks are an absolute train wreck of a franchise. James Dolan will probably shoo away Jackson in 1-2 years and bring back his boy Isiah. Not to mention, their best player doesn't play a lick of defense (no 2-3 zone in the NBA??) and Ollie wouldn't stomach that.

If I'm WM, I'd rip up KO's current deal and offer a long extension at $3M/yr that increases as the term of the contract goes. Take money out of the equation. If he wants to coach the NBA, he can then afford to wait for the right fit instead of hopping at the first opening like the hot mess in Manhattan.

 

[Northbound]

That jobs a no win from every angle

1) Press doesn't like a particular coaching move well ask phil what he would have done and when phil doesn't say something let the press speculate - second guess city
2) salary cap issues
3) unrealistic expectations
4) Phil as GM, versus Phil as coach - the GM is a different skill set how people don't get that or acknowledge that it might have an impact astounds me
5) Dolan as Dolan....judge not by what he say, but his past history

Do not walk away from that job, run away from that job, whether its KO or any other candidate.

 

[kemba]

The only guy who's been mentioned in credible rumors is Kerr. Everybody else is just writers throwing out names.

Ollie's already said he has no interest in any NBA jobs right now. He's not going anywhere. Maybe down the road is a different story.