The New York Knicks have gone through four head coaches in the past eight years. That's not good. President Phil Jackson's hiring was meant to bring an end to the instability and turnover, but he has yet to find his man. Derek Fisher flamed out in spectacular fashion, and interim head coach Kurt Rambis is no one's idea of a long-term option outside of Jackson.
Can New York find a viable candidate still available? Perhaps.
According to a recent report, New York has interviewed former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek for the coaching vacancy. Jackson reportedly met with Hornacek privately recently, raising the number of legit options for the position to four.
Rambis remains the frontrunner thanks to his knowledge of Jackson's famed triangle offense. Last month, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt was rumored to be the most popular external choice. It was also reported that Jackson had met with former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel just last week.
It is unknown if the Knicks will broaden their search, something star forward Carmelo Anthony has pushed for both publicly and behind the scenes. It is thought that even if Rambis does not land the head coaching gig, he will remain with the team as a lead assistant. Jackson prefers to have some familiar faces on the coaching staff moving forward.
Vogel has reportedly drawn strong interest from the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic. In six seasons with the Pacers, Vogel made the post-season five times and finished with a .580 winning percentage in the regular season. He is largely considered the top coach on the market at the moment.
Hornacek has also drawn interest from several clubs over the past few weeks. He is reportedly at the top of Golden State's wish list to replace Luke Walton, who was hired to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, as lead assistant. Hornacek finished 101-112 in three seasons with the Phoenix Suns, though general manager Ryan McDonough's constant tinkering likely did not help the on-court product.
We'll keep you posted as more details emerge.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
