The New York Knicks are running a coaching search (sort of), as news broke today that Phil Jackson met face to face with Frank Vogel.
By Chip Murphy
Could the man in charge of the New York Knicks actually be conducting a coaching search?
Well, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Phil Jackson hasn’t just reached out to one, but two candidates. Okay, that’s not really a coaching search, but for Jackson it could be the most effort he’s put in since he’s taken the job with the Knicks.
Per Isola, Jackson’s most recent contact was former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel.
Phil Jackson met with Frank Vogel last week, the Daily News has learned. Kurt Rambis, David Blatt and Vogel remain Knicks top 3 candidates.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) May 15, 2016
After Vogel’s firing, Knicks fans went wild in the hopes that Jackson would go outside of his narrow-minded view of how an organization should be run and hire the proven Vogel. Without a background in the triangle most figured it was a long shot, but hearing that Jackson actually met with Vogel is a surprising positive.
Now, of course none of this means that Vogel will accept the job, or even be offered the job. We all know Jackson prefers his close friend and triangle comrade Kurt Rambis. He hasn’t hired him yet likely because owner James Dolan won’t sign off on such a catastrophic move.
ICYMI Column: It's time for Dolan to order Jackson to action, starting with this: Call Frank Vogel. Now. https://t.co/Ozb0V3wa4v #Knicks
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) May 6, 2016
Vogel has more appealing options to choose from with the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies coaching positions recently opening up. Someone as established as Vogel may not want to work with Jackson glaring over his shoulder, especially after Larry Bird pulled the rug out from under him in Indiana.
https://youtu.be/dnVqZAmI-_o
Right now Phil just wants everyone to know that he did in fact meet with Vogel. He dropped the ball with Thibs, so he wants to look good. He has to save a little face. Interviewing Steve Mills’ old college teammate (David Blatt) wasn’t cutting it.
Only the Knicks would need to report that the man picked to lead the franchise actually met with a potential head coaching candidate. That says a lot.
