The New York Knicks have been searching for the right coach for the past several weeks with the interim head coach, Kurt Rambis, the preferred choice of team President Phil Jackson.
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Knicks president Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills met with former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel last week in Los Angeles, according to Frank Isola of the Daily News. Vogel is known mostly for his defensive chops and his ability to work with the triangle system is likely to be a key consideration, given Jackson’s desire to keep it in place going forward. Hornecek was let go in February with the injury-riddled Suns stumbling at 14-35.
Jackson has no connection to Hornacek, other than Hornacek was on the floor for the Utah Jazz against Jackson’s Bulls in the NBA Finals in the late 1990s. Vogel is also being considered by the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets for their head coaching vacancies.
Hornacek may also be considering the lead assistant coaching role with the Golden State Warriors, as they look for a replacement for current assistant coach Luke Walton. 474 in two-plus seasons as head coach of the Suns. Carmelo Anthony has gone on record as saying he wants Jackson to have an open coaching search.
Kurt Rambis, David Blatt and Vogel are the top three candidates for one of the more coveted National Basketball Association jobs.
Rambis, an assistant under Jackson with the Lakers, was the Knicks’ associate head coach under Derek Fisher.
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In addition to neglecting the services of both Brooks and Thibodeau, Jackson and the Knicks have also failed to consider such candidates as Mark Jackson, Scott Skiles, Jeff Van Gundy or Patrick Ewing this offseason.
