Knicks Increase Focus On Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins For Next Head Coach

[RealGM Wiretap]

The New York Knicks have been seeking an experienced head coach to fill the spot that opened when they fired Tom Thibodeau. That's led New York to contacting multiple teams, and being turned, to speak with current head coaches about the opening.

Now, the Knicks are turning to two former head coaches who are currently unemployed. New York is focused on Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins as possibilities to be their next head coach.

Brown has been a head coach four times for three different teams. He had two stints leading the Cleveland Cavaliers sandwiched around being the Los Angeles Lakers head coach. Brown was also the head coach of the Sacramento Kings for two-plus seasons, before being let go after 31 games this past season.

Jenkins was the Memphis Grizzlies head coach for nearly six seasons. Jenkins was let go with nine games remaining last season.

Both Brown and Jenkins are free and clear of any obligations that would keep them from taking the Knicks job.

Via Sam Amick/The Athletic

[closg00]

Mike Brown, total lack of imagination

[TheCage4]

Both Brown and Jenkins have been dismissed after talks of them losing the locker room, which seems to be what happened to Thibs. So why are the Knicks pursuing these two?

[Bk68]

This during \ hiring seems rudderless. Hope it's not a step back

[jstudabaka]

Taylor Jenkins generally seems a decent coach. The only bad thing I heard about him is that he didn’t have the offense set enough screens for Ja

[Wildcat]

Taylor Jenkins generally seems a decent coach. The only bad thing I heard about him is that he didn’t have the offense set enough screens for Ja

I think they threw him under the bus when they brought in the euro coaches to change up the offense. I don't remember the exact quote, but I believe Ja wasn't a fan of the direction of the offense. Taylor bite the bullet on that. After he was fired, I think they reverted back to what they had the prior seasons.

[Billl]

Both Brown and Jenkins have been dismissed after talks of them losing the locker room, which seems to be what happened to Thibs. So why are the Knicks pursuing these two?

Essentially 100% of nba coaches eventually have the guys start tuning them out. There are currently only 2 head coaches in the NBA with over 5 years in the same gig.

[Bolsolixo]

I'm not sure If Jenkins would be the guy to lead this team to the finals, but I'm absolutelly sure that Mike Brown os not able to do that

[donemilio21]

Knicks should go after Ty Lue, offer Clippers a 1st round pick in exhange

[Pickled Prunes]

Knicks should go after Ty Lue, offer Clippers a 1st round pick in exhange

The most overrated coach in the history of pro sports... and I don't believe the NYK have a tradeable 1st, other than a 2026 protected pick from WAS that will turn into a 2nd when it doesn't convey. They probably need to hang onto that one.

There are so many coaches that don't have jobs. Why is everyone trying to hire coaches that still have jobs but fell short as recently as last month?

[FeatheryTouch]

Knicks should go after Ty Lue, offer Clippers a 1st round pick in exhange

The Knicks have reportedly tried to talk to half a dozen currently employed head coaches and have been told "no" by every team they've asked. What makes you think the Clippers will be any different?

If New York's plan before firing Thibs was to focus on poaching a high-end current head coach from another team, then it was a bad one.

[M2J]

Taylor actually could work. Truth be told. Brown is a really good coach. Would be nice to see him with talent again and he knows big city pressure. He coached the warriors to a title when Kerr was butt hurt

[Barcs]

LMFAO WHAT???? The Knicks are morons. What a stupid organization. They are going to get worse this year because they are blowing up the team for NO REASON. I think I'm seriously done following these idiots.

[Barcs]

Knicks should go after Ty Lue, offer Clippers a 1st round pick in exhange

The Knicks have reportedly tried to talk to half a dozen currently employed head coaches and have been told "no" by every team they've asked. What makes you think the Clippers will be any different?

If New York's plan before firing Thibs was to focus on poaching a high-end current head coach from another team, then it was a bad one.

This franchise is so stupid. They fired Thibbs without a single viable replacement. Leon Rose is trash.

[DimesandKnicks]

If this is what we’re going for we’re super have just kept Thibs. Hopefully these are the same sources that said we were behind Thibs

[beefman]

This during \ hiring seems rudderless. Hope it's not a step back

it definitely is. they struck out on all their top options and now have to consider their fallback options. looks like it is a return to the classic way of doing things

[beefman]

LMFAO WHAT???? The Knicks are morons. What a stupid organization. They are going to get worse this year because they are blowing up the team for NO REASON. I think I'm seriously done following these idiots.

haha i love this. i was hoping the knicks would go back to their old ways

[23artest23]

I genuinely hope the Knicks hire either of these guys though I'd prefer Brown. It's just fitting that they fire Thibs to hire Brown

[jstudabaka]

LMFAO WHAT???? The Knicks are morons. What a stupid organization. They are going to get worse this year because they are blowing up the team for NO REASON. I think I'm seriously done following these idiots.

haha i love this. i was hoping the knicks would go back to their old ways

Ok. So this is where itching to jump on the “Knicks are stupid” bandwagon leads to irrational statements.

If the Knicks determine from a combination of the outcome of the playoffs and player exit interviews that their current coach needs to go, they pretty much have to let him go regardless, no? What are you supposed to do, stick with someone you’re convinced for a fact can’t get you to the next level and has potential issues with current players because there’s not a clear better alternative? If you’ve reached a determination that your current situation isn’t working, then you pretty much need to roll the dice. The notion that “you need to have the next guy in place” doesn’t make any sense if you actually think it through. I’m actually more pro-Thibs than not, but there’s definitely an argument to be made that they hit their ceiling with him and need to make a change.

And I love the narrative shift—a couple weeks ago 70-80% of the commentary of general NBA fans on Thibs was about how he was running starters into the ground, wasn’t running enough PnR with Towns and Brunson, was too dependent on Brunson hero ball—now, of course, that the Knicks have moved on, he’s been sainted and the Knicks are idiots for moving on from such a brilliant coach

[Barcs]

The ceiling argument doesn't make sense to me. They were one lucky bounce away from having a 7 game series that they could have won and ended up in the finals. Obviously we don't know what would have happened in G7, but the team overachieved by beating Boston and then lost to a team they didn't match up well with. Thibs has his flaws, but we are now dumpster diving for coaches that aren't even close to his level.

I don't know about others, but I thought firing Thibs was stupid then and it's still stupid now and looks even worse. I understand the exit meetings thing, but it was said that nobody really badmouthed him. They thought there were things that could be improved, but they were 2 wins away from the finals, so unless things were REALLY bad they shouldn't have done it.