It has been an interesting week for the New York Knicks after they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday and then fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday.
This move was a shock to the NBA world as many believed they would run it back with Thibodeau next season, especially after he helped lead them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Despite this, the Knicks felt that it was time for a coaching change and they now face a crucial decision heading into the offseason as they begin their search for a new head coach.
Of course, New York has been linked to many different coaches as potential replacements for Thibodeau but NBA insider Marc Stein provided a massive update into their coaching search on Wednesday.
“When it comes to available coaches, longtime Villanova coach Jay Wright — who has long expressed a reluctance to make the leap to the NBA — and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant quickly emerged as presumed likely candidates…Two head coaches who are not currently available but said to interest the Knicks, according to league sources, are Dallas' Jason Kidd and Houston's Ime Udoka,” Stein wrote.
It is not a surprise to see Stein mention Wright as a potential coaching candidate for New York due to his ties with Jalen Bruson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, all of whom won a championship at Villanova under Wright.
Bryant is also not a surprise, especially after the Phoenix Suns passed on him to hire a different Cavaliers assistant, Jordan Ott, as their new head coach.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka issues instructions during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka issues instructions during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
While those two are not major surprises, both Udoka and Kidd are due to the fact that they already have a head coaching job with the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks respectively.
Due to this, it is likely that neither one will leave their current position to become the Knicks’ new head coach, meaning that New York will have to look elsewhere to find their replacement for Thibodeau.