Amid a critical offseason, the New York Knicks are still in the early stages of a desperate coaching search. After recently firing their coach, Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are hard at work on his replacement, but it seems they’d rather steal a coach from a rival team over finding one on their own.
“The New York Knicks requested permission to speak to Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, but were denied on both, sources tell ESPN. Knicks could request permission for other current head coaches, too,” wrote Shams on X.
The Knicks were denied an interview with Finch and Udoka, which is unsurprising considering both are under contract with their current teams. The same is also true for Jason Kidd, whom the Knicks are reported to have an interest in. Interestingly, the Knicks have yet to inquire about the availability of Jason Kidd.
“The Knicks have not requested permission for Mavericks coach Jason Kidd as of Tuesday night, but sources tell ESPN that the Mavericks would reject them.”
The firing of Thibs happened after years of historic success for the franchise. Under his watch, the Knicks went from a lottery team to contenders with a complete change in identity and culture. Sadly, after back-to-back losses in the playoffs, Thibs lost his job, and the team has been unable to settle on his replacement.
It’s unknown why the Knicks are looking for coaches who are already employed, but it won’t be long before they are forced to change their approach by looking for available candidates. One prominent name who was recently fired is Michael Malone, the former Nuggets coach who helped Nikola Jokic win his first championship.
While he’s proven and widely respected across the league, his leadership style and personality are perhaps too similar to Tom Thibodeau, who was also an old-school, defensive-minded coach.
Then, there’s Taylor Jenkins, the former Memphis Grizzlies coach who led the Grizzlies to major prosperity in the West. He was a steady force in Memphis for years before he lost the locker room, but there’s reason to believe he can bring out the best in the Knicks.
The Knicks want someone they feel can take them over the top, and it starts with building a culture that every player can buy into. Chris Finch and Ime Udoka did a great job of that with their respective teams this year, and it’s why the Knicks want their influence for their own organization.
With their competitors unlikely to let them interview their preferred coaches, the Knicks will have to find someone else who meets their standards and, fortunately for them, there are plenty of worthy contenders who fit the bill. More than anything, they need a coach who can bring their current group together and maximize their potential on offense with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby.
At this point, the Knicks cannot afford to get this wrong, as any misstep here could result in the collapse of all the momentum and goodwill they’ve built over the years. They know how important the decision is, and they are sparing no expense to find the right guy.
