After reviewing their front office and appointing Leon Rose as president of basketball operations, the Knicks are now targeting a new coach to replace Mike Miller, who took the reins tentatively following David Fizdale’s dismissal in December 2019.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Rose’s main focus on the role is former Chicago Bulls coach and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Tom Thibodeau.
Speaking at NBA TV’s Gametime, Haywood, who played for 13 seasons in the NBA between 2001 and 2015, noted how hard work any incoming head coach will face in an attempt to resolve the Knicks in trouble.
“I’m not really sure how desirable the job (Knicks head coach) is, part of the shine of the team has gone away. The fact that the Knicks weren’t able to get free agent meetings last summer spoke of volumes. The Knicks are the people on the team no longer feel they have to go for recognition, “he said.
“There is a lot to do in New York right now. There is a lot to do for the organization to compete again. I think they are at least three or four years away from being a playoff team.”
Haywood also questioned Thibodeau’s suitability for the huge task he would face in New York.