Sometime soon (possibly this week), the Knicks are expected to remove Mike Woodson’s interim title and make him the permanent head coach.  They will do so without making a single bid for the shiniest object on the market: Phil Jackson, with his 11 sparkly championship rings.  Read more after the jump.
The Knicks had not contacted Jackson as of last week, according to people close to the Hall of Fame coach. There is no guarantee that he would take the job, but “he would listen,†one said.
Yet James L. Dolan, the Garden chairman, apparently does not intend to call. He has already begun preliminary talks with Woodson on a multiyear extension, according to people with ties to the Garden.
Woodson, a passionate teacher and motivator, is a perfectly reasonable choice.
The Knicks rallied under his leadership, going 18-6 to finish the season before getting crushed by the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. He has the strong support of Anthony, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, the Knicks’ three stars.
He has a solid résumé, having previously molded a young and impetuous Atlanta Hawks roster into a stout playoff team. He is well liked and respected around the league. No one will fault the Knicks for hiring him.
