As I explained before, the closer we get to Kevin Durant’s free agency, the more reports will surface about his possible destination. We’ve had reports about the Lakers and Warriors; the next team up is the New York Knicks.
The Knicks fired Derek Fisher as their head coach and moved Kurt Rambis up from assistant to interim head coach. In deciding who will replace Fisher permanently, there’s a lot of things the Knicks have to consider; offensive and defensive needs, pleasing Carmelo Anthony and also enticing possible future free agents. In comes this report.
via ESPN’s Ian Begley:
Coaches such as Tom Thibodeau, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Hornacek, David Blatt and Scott Brooks are available. None of these coaches are triangle disciples, but they’ve all had success in the NBA. And each would present an interesting candidacy for the Knicks’ opening.
Brooks is a name to think about, for one reason: The Knicks have been informed that their chances of landing Kevin Durant this summer would be influenced by hiring Brooks, according to league sources.
New York faces long odds to land Durant to begin with. And their chances took a hit after Derek Fisher was fired, league sources say. As noted here previously, Fisher was going to be a factor in Durant’s free agency this summer. But hiring Brooks could get Durant’s attention.
Of course, it seems unlikely that Jackson would choose a coach based on the idea that Durant might want to play in New York. Also, it’s important to note that Jackson has no prior relationship with Brooks and that the ex-Oklahoma City coach doesn’t run the triangle offense.
In other words it’s a LONG shot. Plus hiring a coach on the small possibility that it MIGHT influence Kevin Durant, is lunacy. I wasn’t very fond of Brooks with the Thunder, he just couldn’t get them over the hump and most likely wouldn’t be the answer to the Knicks troubles.
