Breaking: Tom Fired

[Clyde_Style]

the report on the firing i think did mention dolan as part of those urgent player meetings that preceded the firing. but i haven't had a chance to read much yet. work and forum been hot!

i'm not sure. some folks been citing the hukporti locker room visit and recent sideline facial expressions.

It would be a great twist on the story if Huk turns into Mitch # 2 and we have 48 minutes of court terror in the paint and then he and Dolan become best buddies, go golfing together any chance they can get and Huk gets invited on stage to sing a cameo with The Straight Shots.

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

And Kolek has to be in the mix. Him and Deuce could be a second unit backcourt.

Not sure what they plan for Dadiet, but the one I wouldn't sleep on is McCullar. If his body is sound the guy could be a monster defensively and maybe capable offensively.

[Knicksfan1992]

I love Udoka but that's because I liked Thibs

The people here who disliked Thibs but want Udoka will be in for a wild surprise IMO.

Maybe he's a little bit more modern and less resistant to change but, he's cut from a very similar cloth to Thibs and his offensive coaching abilities are just as much in question.

I think my official Top 5 from the names i've seen so far are:

1. Jay Wright
2. Ime Udoka
3. Dan Hurley
4. Johnnie Bryant
5. Mike Malone

[Jeff Van Gully]

I don't want the next coach to be akin to what Aaron Boone is on the Yankees, but I want someone who is open minded, listens to data and works in collaboration with the front office to develop a modern approach on and off the court for this club. I want someone that can develop talent while also maximizing the veteran talent at hand.

Look at Carlos Mendoza for the Mets. A young guy more open to data but still has a good feel of the players but is an extension of Stearns and the FO. I'm sure our built out analytical team was frustrated we played like Deuce with the starters less Hart for like 80 minutes all year...like zero sample size for a true 5-out lineup.

More experimenting in the regular season to see different lineup combinations and contributions from everyone.

Right. Mendoza is awesome. Smart. Born in the last 45 years.

The analytics team was probably screaming about the starters playing 700 more mins than other teams starters across the league. I feel like they were ignored entirely.

I'm warming up to the idea of Bryant to be honest.

i don't know enough about bryant's coaching strategy/principles, but it's probably more modern than thibs. the recent videos shared still showed a LOT of read and react, which is player-dependent and frankly thibslamic. but i did see a lot more emphasis on player movement, which LEADS to ball movement. i do love that. even as a thibs fan, i hated seeing guys so stationary in the sets. even if the ball isn't moving that much, player movement creates opportunity in the set defenses. if JB can get them to move and trust, i'd be happy to see it.

what i do know about JB is that he's seen as a stabilizing force in relationships and communication. that excites me. even if thibs had good ideas he couldn't get the players to execute, that matters. i've been vocal about that too even as a thibs fan.

bryant knowing the team so well would give me a lot of peace in this process. and i'd hope he brings us all we need to be better.

[Jeff Van Gully]

It would be a great twist on the story if Huk turns into Mitch # 2 and we have 48 minutes of court terror in the paint and then he and Dolan become best buddies, go golfing together any chance they can get and Huk gets invited on stage to sing a cameo with The Straight Shots.

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

And Kolek has to be in the mix. Him and Deuce could be a second unit backcourt.

Not sure what they plan for Dadiet, but the one I wouldn't sleep on is McCullar. If his body is sound the guy could be a monster defensively and maybe capable offensively.

if the next coach expands the rotation to 10, kolek is probably in there like swimwear.

i watched him through his college career and i'm ASHAMED of how much video i watched leading up to the draft. i lost my **** when we picked him. also really liked the defensive improvement i saw when he got back in. we'll need facilitation in the second unit and he could absolutely bring that.

[BKlutch]

the report on the firing i think did mention dolan as part of those urgent player meetings that preceded the firing. but i haven't had a chance to read much yet. work and forum been hot!

i'm not sure. some folks been citing the hukporti locker room visit and recent sideline facial expressions.

It would be a great twist on the story if Huk turns into Mitch # 2 and we have 48 minutes of court terror in the paint and then he and Dolan become best buddies, go golfing together any chance they can get and Huk gets invited on stage to sing a cameo with The Straight Shots.

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

Then you've decided we won't have Malone.

[mpharris36]

I don't want the next coach to be akin to what Aaron Boone is on the Yankees, but I want someone who is open minded, listens to data and works in collaboration with the front office to develop a modern approach on and off the court for this club. I want someone that can develop talent while also maximizing the veteran talent at hand.

Look at Carlos Mendoza for the Mets. A young guy more open to data but still has a good feel of the players but is an extension of Stearns and the FO. I'm sure our built out analytical team was frustrated we played like Deuce with the starters less Hart for like 80 minutes all year...like zero sample size for a true 5-out lineup.

More experimenting in the regular season to see different lineup combinations and contributions from everyone.

interesting. i like this conversation and line of thinking. i think there should be alignment from top down. i also honestly just believed there must be because of the relationships. but that's not necessarily true.

also sounds like there were (as is normal) differeing opinions in the FO. so i wonder how much is that. but assuming the FO is on the same page and the coach is rogue... yeah, that ain't gonna work. togetherness isn't just about the on-court operations, right?

I don't even know if its going rogue for Thibs...that is just the animal you have to deal with when you have a successful well established coach that has been in his role for a while. He does things his way for better or worse.

The FO for the first time kind of manipulated the roster that doesn't have the true Thibs "guys" all over. And we saw it was a little helter skelter all year in terms of fit and "buy in" from everyone. So that is probably where the FO is...there was a disconnect that Thibs wanted to continue and play one way and the FO was like but we built the roster to do this...

so it just seemed like a natural breaking point since I can't blame thibs...at this point you aren't going to teach an old dog new tricks.

[Jeff Van Gully]

I love Udoka but that's because I liked Thibs

The people here who disliked Thibs but want Udoka will be in for a wild surprise IMO.

Maybe he's a little bit more modern and less resistant to change but, he's cut from a very similar cloth to Thibs and his offensive coaching abilities are just as much in question.

I think my official Top 5 from the names i've seen so far are:

1. Jay Wright
2. Ime Udoka
3. Dan Hurley
4. Johnnie Bryant
5. Mike Malone

just curious. why isn't bryant higher for you? do you think he'd be more anti-thibs?

as for the bold, man. i like thibs and thought some of udoka's minutes distributions last season were war crimes. he had actual injured guys doing 42, 43 at times. the averages were better than thibs, for sure. but he had the same kind of games he tried to win at all costs.

not trying to be controversial. jalen green might have needed it. he was going in the wrong direction and has seemed to turn a corner.

but yeah, if you want minutes balance, bryant might be your guy coming from what we saw in cleveland.

[Jeffrey]

If they are looking at coaches with contracts.. then I want to see if Kenny Atkinson is available as wel.

I want someone who can squeeze as much value as they can out of a player. Kenny Atkinson has done that time and time again. Look at his resume for changing things up:

1. Brook Lopez shooting 3s - gave extra life to his career
2. Bruce Brown - became a short king roller for the Nets. Made him a dangerous offensive player
3. Ty Jerome - wtf did he come from
4. Spencer Dinwiddie
5. Resurrected D'angelo Russell's career
6. Jarrett Allen (has a little bit more offensive talent) but similar Mitch Robinson became an offensive threat

[Clyde_Style]

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

And Kolek has to be in the mix. Him and Deuce could be a second unit backcourt.

Not sure what they plan for Dadiet, but the one I wouldn't sleep on is McCullar. If his body is sound the guy could be a monster defensively and maybe capable offensively.

if the next coach expands the rotation to 10, kolek is probably in there like swimwear.

i watched him through his college career and i'm ASHAMED of how much video i watched leading up to the draft. i lost my **** when we picked him. also really liked the defensive improvement i saw when he got back in. we'll need facilitation in the second unit and he could absolutely bring that.

That qualifies you as a bigger Kolek head than me though I still have a batch of Kolek GIFs on standby. I will have to retire this one:

Spoiler:

He did show defensive improvements in the sparse time he got. Imagine if he had been in the rotation how much he could have worked on that.

What I saw was a guy with decent lateral quickness working hard to stay in front of his man. At his size he will get beat by bigger or quicker guys sometimes, but largely he was succeeding in doing what you need from a man defense basis. Good man defense collectively is what leads to good team defense so he is probably not the defensive liability his detractors were claiming. Therefore, the man needs to play because he is a stone cold baller and the guy absolutely can shoot.

[Jeff Van Gully]

It would be a great twist on the story if Huk turns into Mitch # 2 and we have 48 minutes of court terror in the paint and then he and Dolan become best buddies, go golfing together any chance they can get and Huk gets invited on stage to sing a cameo with The Straight Shots.

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

Then you've decided we won't have Malone.

i know he won a title, but he got canned BEFORE the playoffs because he's pretty much a **** thibs.

having a title is an accomplishment i'd never minimize or take away from a coach. even doc rivers. but at least they let thibs get a crack at the postseason. denver was like, "yo. we can't do this." Jenkins getting the same treatment gives me pause too. but i was never a big fan of his.

i loved thibs and would have serious concerns about malone, if that makes sense.

(because i admit i don't have that sentiment all the way fleshed out. still processing.)

[mpharris36]

I don't want the next coach to be akin to what Aaron Boone is on the Yankees, but I want someone who is open minded, listens to data and works in collaboration with the front office to develop a modern approach on and off the court for this club. I want someone that can develop talent while also maximizing the veteran talent at hand.

Look at Carlos Mendoza for the Mets. A young guy more open to data but still has a good feel of the players but is an extension of Stearns and the FO. I'm sure our built out analytical team was frustrated we played like Deuce with the starters less Hart for like 80 minutes all year...like zero sample size for a true 5-out lineup.

More experimenting in the regular season to see different lineup combinations and contributions from everyone.

Right. Mendoza is awesome. Smart. Born in the last 45 years.

The analytics team was probably screaming about the starters playing 700 more mins than other teams starters across the league. I feel like they were ignored entirely.

I'm warming up to the idea of Bryant to be honest.

I think Bryant is my #1 choice right now. He has experience with the organization. He is a well respected assistant. I think he checks off a lot of boxes.

Obviously there is unknown since he hasn't been a HC before...but I don't think that is a requirement for me. Sometimes a fresh hungry new coach is exactly what you are looking for.

[aq_ua]

I think 100% Hukporti is going to be a rotation player next season.

And Kolek has to be in the mix. Him and Deuce could be a second unit backcourt.

Not sure what they plan for Dadiet, but the one I wouldn't sleep on is McCullar. If his body is sound the guy could be a monster defensively and maybe capable offensively.

if the next coach expands the rotation to 10, kolek is probably in there like swimwear.

i watched him through his college career and i'm ASHAMED of how much video i watched leading up to the draft. i lost my **** when we picked him. also really liked the defensive improvement i saw when he got back in. we'll need facilitation in the second unit and he could absolutely bring that.

Kolek stepping into the Payne minutes seems like an easy decision. You save $3mm in veteran minimum salary and hopefully keep Delon Wright as your third string. Payne's salary slot can go to Shamet on a full season deal. With those moves, the roster would be:

C: Mitch / Hukporti
PF: KAT / Hart
SF: OG / Shamet / Dadiet
SG: Bridges / Deuce
PG: Brunson / Kolek / Wright

That's $202mm give or take, and roughly $6mm under the second apron.

[Kidknick!]

Still celebrating.

[Jeff Van Gully]

And Kolek has to be in the mix. Him and Deuce could be a second unit backcourt.

Not sure what they plan for Dadiet, but the one I wouldn't sleep on is McCullar. If his body is sound the guy could be a monster defensively and maybe capable offensively.

if the next coach expands the rotation to 10, kolek is probably in there like swimwear.

i watched him through his college career and i'm ASHAMED of how much video i watched leading up to the draft. i lost my **** when we picked him. also really liked the defensive improvement i saw when he got back in. we'll need facilitation in the second unit and he could absolutely bring that.

That qualifies you as a bigger Kolek head than me though I still have a batch of Kolek GIFs on standby. I will have to retire this one:

Spoiler:

He did show defensive improvements in the sparse time he got. Imagine if he had been in the rotation how much he could have worked on that.

What I saw was a guy with decent lateral quickness working hard to stay in front of his man. At his size he will get beat by bigger or quicker guys sometimes, but largely he was succeeding in doing what you need from a man defense basis. Good man defense collectively is what leads to good team defense so he is probably not the defensive liability his detractors were claiming. Therefore, the man needs to play because he is a stone cold baller and the guy absolutely can shoot.

i would say i was kolek obsessed and my wife was concerned. i knew the defense was gonna be a challenge to start tho. because he was getting targeted in college to be fair. but his court vision, leadership, and general doggedness are special. been a big fan. i was just more sympathetic of why i assumed thibs didn't play him. but i def wasn't on some "he's a scrub." felt he needed time in the lab to be more playable.

i haven't seen a bigger kolek cheerleader than you though. but i'm a believer. i don't hold out hope he'll ever be even a plus defender. but if he can hold position and TRY (which we saw flashes of) i'm with it. would love to see the new coach give him some run.

[KnixinSix]

Jay would be fun

Read on Twitter

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I like that list of intial candidates quite a bit

Kidd got a team with two defensive liabilties to the finals.

Udoka is a very good coach.

Jay Wright was heavily recruited by the NBA and coached Brunson Hart Bridges to a championship

Bryant was in the building 4 years, knows the team inside and out and is generally loved by the players. The Cavs took a huge jump with relatively the same roster with him albeit as a AHC.

[The KnicksFix]

I’m noticing BSPN and even Alan Hahn / Ian begley have no clue about any moves the Knicks front office have been making or will make

[G_K_F]

Offer Erik Spoelstra $50 million per year to coach.

[WuTang_CMB]

stein

My former ESPN teammate Ian Begley reported Tuesday for SNY that Dolan, in a rare step, took part in exit meetings with select players after New York lost the Indiana series in six games.


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 … emphasis on presumed.
Wright is obviously close with the Knicks' former Villanova trio of Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges but, again, has repeatedly said that he does not have NBA coaching aspirations.
Bryant, meanwhile, is currently one of two finalists for the Phoenix Suns' coaching vacancy along with fellow Cavs assistant Jordan Ott, meaning that the Knicks — if interested— would have to A) see if he's still available at week's end with the Suns expected to choose between Bryant and Ott as early as Wednesday and B) be willing to hire to a first-time head coach to take over a team that lives in one of the league's most intense spotlights … and after Rose tried to explain Thibs' dismissal by saying "our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans."
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.


One source with knowledge of the Rockets' thinking told The Stein Line categorically that permission to speak with Udoka would be rejected if the Knicks requested it.


A similar response would be expected from the Mavericks, but a read on their position as conclusive as Houston's could not be immediately confirmed Tuesday night. Kidd has two seasons left on a contract extension he received during last season's playoffs with the Mavericks in the midst of a run to the NBA Finals and with the Los Angeles Lakers expected to show interest in hiring him to replace Darvin Ham.
Kidd, of course, had a successful playing stint as a Knick and likewise had a strong working relationship with Brunson after they both helped Luka Dončić steer the Mavericks to a wholly unexpected Western Conference finals berth in Kidd's first season as Rick Carlisle's replacement in Dallas in 2021-22.


Kidd was interviewed for the Knicks' post during the 2020 offseason before Thibodeau was hired. He also remains close to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is oft-described as a potential Knicks trade target should Antetokounmpo ever decide to push for a move.

[NY2k1]

Johnnie Bryant relies on a motion offense with constant back cuts and spacing. It’s perfect for today’s NBA, the Cavs run a lot of sets that we used to run last year with Donte and ihart and back cutters. His defensive philosophies were amazing, he ran the 2-3 zone defense in game 3 with the Cavs that beat the pacers, but Atkinson went away from it in game 4 and 5 for no reason. He’s the best up and coming modern NBA coach

They are looking for a Championship coach not a young upstart. It will be either Bud or Malone.

It is 1000% neither Bud or Malone
Malone burned bridges with Dolan when he was an assistant coach here in the early 2000s
Bud has no connections with the Knicks

That, and Malone is just a Thibs clone with a ring thanks to Jokic.

[spree8]

Jay would be fun

Read on Twitter

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That’s crazy. Dunno how we’d be able to get Udoka, but if that’s possible, he’s gotta be #1 by a huge margin