The Knicks are in the middle of a coaching search that has them getting denied on a public stage as they navigate an important offseason. On top of all that, they were named as one of five potential suitors for Suns star Kevin Durant in trade talks.
However, don’t expect the Celtics rival to go for Durant, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. ESPN’s Shams Charania listed the Knicks, along with the Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves and Spurs, as showing interest in Durant. But it sounds like the Knicks will stick with their core as they eye another deep playoff run.
Any Durant trade would be tricky financially for the Knicks. Plus, they just went through an offseason of change last summer when they dealt for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. So they could be shying away from another major shakeup that will already include a coaching change this offseason.
New York tasted success these playoffs by making the East Finals for the first time in 25 years. While the Knicks got some rare continuity and stability under coach Tom Thibodeau, they still fired him after losing to the Pacers in six games in the conference finals.
Now, expectations are high with the Knicks boasting a roster that’s firmly in win-now mode. They dealt significant assets to land their current core which has now experienced a deep playoff run together.
But first, they must land a new head coach. The Knicks have been getting turned down by multiple franchises to interview sitting head coaches. They’ve requested to interview the Rockets’ Ime Udoka, the Timberwolves’ Chris Finch, the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, the Hawks’ Quin Snyder and the Bulls’ Billy Donovan, only to be denied each time.
So the Knicks are in the middle of what’s ended up being a very public coaching search. How that shakes out is the priority in New York for now.