Another candidate has emerged as a potential head coach for the New York Knicks, former Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek.
By Chip Murphy
Jeff Hornacek was fired by the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 1, 2016, after his team started out 14-35.
Hornacek finished second in Coach of the Year voting after the 2013-14 season and was considered an up and coming coach in the league.
After being scapegoated by a flailing team he’s a free agent, and the New York Knicks are taking advantage.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Knicks have expanded their coaching search beyond the initial three of Kurt Rambis, David Blatt, and Frank Vogel.
The newest name to surface is Hornacek.
The Knicks, league sources say, have interviewed Jeff Hornacek for their coaching job along with Kurt Rambis, David Blatt and Frank Vogel.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 16, 2016
Hornacek is in a similar situation to Vogel, with multiple teams interested in his services. It won’t be easy for the Knicks to convince him to take on such a massive undertaking.
Sources say Golden State also has strong interest in Hornacek to join the Warriors' bench next season if he's still on the market by then.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 16, 2016
You would have to think that being a head coach is preferable to taking a step back as an assistant, regardless of whether it’s with the Warriors or not. Then again, look what sitting next to Steve Kerr has done for Alvin Gentry and Luke Walton. Golden State could be the right move for Hornacek.
Hornacek has been in the mix for nearly every head coach job this offseason. New York, Houston, Memphis and Orlando all still have vacancies
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 16, 2016
Vogel is a top flight head coach with a great reputation. He can afford to sit out a season like Tom Thibodeau did and vet his options. Hornacek hasn’t built up that pedigree yet. His departure from Phoenix left him looking poorly, and Hornacek may want to jump onto a new job and redeem himself as soon as possible.
Whether or not it’s with the Knicks, who knows?
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