The New York Knicks are embarking on a coaching quest, with Tom Thibodeau, Mike Woodson and interim head coach Mike Miller as candidates. Kenny Atkinson also seems like an obvious candidate, and according to SNY’s Ian Begley, there is “legitimate internal support” for the former Brooklyn Nets head coach.
But remember, these are the Knicks; What can go wrong probably will and probably spectacularly.
That said, Atkinson seems like a perfect candidate to (finally) fix the Knicks. He had a 118-190 record in over three seasons as a Nets manager. He oversaw a reconstruction that seemed set to pay off with a post-season trip and the arrivals of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. But in March Atkinson was gone, the result of a “mutual separation of manners”. How much someone reads in the drama depends on the individual, but there is no doubt about what Atkinson did with the nets before his departure.
The rebuilding in Brooklyn makes it perfect for trying to do it again in Manhattan.
Atkinson is expected to interview for Knicks’ work, along with Thibodeau, Woodson and Miller. Begley added Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson as candidates with fans within the organization, but it is unclear if they will both interview. In April, however worthwhile, Jackson expressed the confidence that he would train again in the NBA.
New Knicks president Leon Rose should have a clean slate to do as he sees fit to put things on the right track. A solid and thorough research of coaching is a start, even if Thibodeau’s idea as a current favorite inspires a lot of cynicism. Kentucky chief coach John Calipari also lingers as a candidate for the Knicks.
As far as circumstances allow, the Knicks must not leave any stone unturned in their search for a new manager. Atkinson has practically fallen on his lap across the city as an ideal looking solution. But even with a new front office role in Rose, the story says that the Knicks will not only pave the way for Atkinson’s hiring, but will eventually hire the absolutely wrong guy.