The New York Knicks are facing immense pressure to nail their head coaching hire this offseason.
Tom Thibodeau just led the Knicks to their best playoff run in 25 seasons, making the Eastern Conference Finals. Still, he was sacked to set up a pivotal offseason in the Big Apple.
New York now has pressure to make a proper hire to lead the Jalen Brunson-led squad.
Evidently, the franchise is expected to make major roster changes around Brunson. A trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns is in play. The same goes for Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, even. Mitchell Robinson's salary is valuable in trade talks, too.
Point being, the Knicks could trade anyone outside of Brunson. They've also been linked to the likes of Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which isn't exactly a new thing for New York.
With this, hiring a proper head coach to manage a new-look squad might be even more difficult. The Knicks are expected to request permission to meet with Jason Kidd.
The club is also expected to pursue two more active NBA head coaches outside of Kidd after a recent report from Ian Begley.
In addition to Kidd, the Knicks have a "degree of interest" in Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, according to Begley.
Udoka, as a first-year head coach with the Boston Celtics, made the NBA Finals. He's since helped turn the Rockets from a losing squad to a playoff team.
Finch has taken the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals in two straight seasons.
Tyrese Haliburton vs. the Knicks.
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Knicks aren't just looking to make a splash with their roster, they're aiming to get a high-caliber head coach, too.
Leading a team in Madison Square Garden -- the mecca of basketball -- certainly has an appeal. Will the bright lights of the Big Apple and the pressure of leading the Knicks push the candidates away? Will the opposing clubs disallow New York from pursuing them?
The head coaching vacancy certainly has plenty of eyes following every rumor and update. The Knicks need to deliver in the offseason after firing Thibodeau.