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The New York Knicks are finishing another disappointing season, with rumors about who will be their next full-time head coach. Team president Phil Jackson is rumored to favor interim coach Kurt Rambis for the role, but multiple reports have indicated that other candidates will be considered.
Among that list of candidates, along with some notable others, is former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt. He led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in his first season, and then was abruptly fired in January even though the team had a 30-11 record. Blatt’s coaching resume includes a lot of success in Europe, at both the club and international levels, but without a clear commitment to run Jackson’s beloved triangle offense, his odds to get the Knicks job look long. And quite frankly, Blatt should have some better opportunities come his way once the season is over.
One point in Blatt’s corner when it comes to the Knicks is a past relationship with general manager Steve Mills, as the two played together at Princeton. But that assumes Mills has any real pull in terms of which direction the team goes with a coaching hire, which is at best unclear with Jackson the one who will be held most accountable for the decision.
A wide-ranging search for a new head coach is a good idea in most cases, but token interviews with notable names don’t qualify. Until further notice Jackson’s interest in Blatt, or anyone besides Rambis, to be the Knicks’ head coach looks like a facade fed to the media in an effort to placate fans and curb criticism.
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