With Tom Thibodeau now settling into his future with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New York Knicks remain focused on the status-quo.
Surprise, surprise. Tom Thibodeau is finalizing a deal to be the head coach of an NBA team today and it’s not the New York Knicks. The Minnesota Timberwolves won the Thibs sweepstakes, making the defensive guru their head coach and President of Basketball Operations.
The latest on the #Knicks coaching search & @PhilJackson11’s mindset from @jonahballow.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 19, 2016
Tom Thibodeau finalizing a deal to become Pres. of Basketball Ops and coach of Timberwolves. @WojVerticalNBA report. https://t.co/uOgNfQDzGQ
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) April 20, 2016
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, Phil Jackson didn’t speak to Thibodeau about the vacancy. That information isn’t surprising given Jackson’s comments insinuating that only people he knows will be involved in the interview process.
Phil Jackson and the Knicks did not talk to Tom Thibodeau about their coaching vacancy before Thibs took Minnesota job, league sources say.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 20, 2016
Jackson is sticking to his guns and hiring a triangle man. As sad as that is it’s true, and the silly old man with the outdated idea will continue to sink the franchise deeper with his next big move. As likely as it is that the head coach in 2016-17 will be Jackson’s bumbling lieutenant, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein there is another favorite who’s emerged.
Sacramento just getting started; Lakers deliberating whether to keep Byron Scott; Knicks' focus, for now, remains Kurt Rambis & David Blatt
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 20, 2016
An ESPN report of the the Knicks interest in David Blatt emerged last week. Despite the fact that he isn’t a part of the Jackson coaching shrub, it wasn’t all that surprising.
Blatt has two things going for him that could help the recently fired Cavs coach land the job. His offense in Europe was noted for running elements of the triangle, and he played in college at Princeton with general manager Steve Mills. Blatt’s a long shot, but certainly an improvement over Rambis.
