Frank Vogel is officially available as a potential candidate for the New York Knicks after being let go by the Pacers. Will Phil Jackson care?
By Chip Murphy
The New York Knicks alleged coaching search has just picked up.
Earlier in the week, there was rampant speculation about Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel as a potential candidate. It doesn’t have to just be speculation anymore.
Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird announced that Vogel will not be returning for the 2016-17 season.
This instantly makes Vogel a top candidate for the vacant Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings positions.
The question is, will Phil Jackson do the sensible thing and reach out to Vogel?
Jackson has made it clear that he is only interested in interviewing candidates he “probably knows” aka triangle guys, but he swung and missed hard with Luke Walton and hopefully that has him thinking differently.
Vogel has ties to Jackson. He worked as an advanced scout for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006, although he even mentioned that he only spoke with the Zen Master once the whole season.
Vogel has talked about his admiration for Jackson, and even hired triangle disciple Brian Shaw as his associate head coach in Indiana.
Vogel’s admiration for “Big Chief Triangle” could establish a good rapport with him and Jackson in a coach-executive relationship. Then again, an established coach like Vogel may feel like a puppet and could see the Rockets or Kings offers as more attractive.
Vogel will have to wait though, because Phil’s on vacation, clearing his head in Montana.
"Curly"moment. pic.twitter.com/xKgKl5SYt4
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) May 5, 2016
