New York Knicks need to avoid hiring former Cavaliers coach David Blatt
David Blatt has expressed interest in returning to the NBA and as a friend of New York Knicks management, this could become reality sooner rather than later.
The New York Knicks are heading into a brand new season with a roster filled with returning players and new young players. As head coach Jeff Hornacek enters his second season, he will be finally allowed to lead the team triangle-free.
According to the New York Daily News, Hornacek could be one of many coaches on the hot seat as New York tries to figure out its new plan under new team president Steve Mills. The recent hiring of new front office executive Craig Robinson was just one of many steps that will lead to many more changes in the Knicks system.
A name that has gained steam in regards to joining the franchise is former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt, who is reportedly eager to return to the coaching ranks in the NBA.
Blatt recently spoke with The Jerusalem Post revealing his hopes to return to the NBA and lead a team again.
"“I have an end game and that end game is that I would really like to go back to the NBA. There were no changes in the NBA this year from a coaching standpoint and my real goal is to try next year to get back into the league as a head coach. It may happen and it may not happen. But I wanted to leave that door open for myself if the opportunity arises.”"
The ironic misfortune that haunted Blatt during his tenure in Cleveland was the difficulty adapting to the NBA game while trying to coach a very determined iconic superstar in LeBron James.
The union between James and Blatt seemed very strained as the two seemed to have different philosophies on how to lead the Cavaliers, regardless of their success together reaching the NBA Finals in 2015. James seemed more like the coach on the floor due to his imposing presence and high “basketball IQ,” eventually forcing the parting of ways in favor of current coach Tyronn Lue.
Blatt may have strong international ties and skills to help develop young players, but it’s too soon to give up on Hornacek before getting a chance to actually run his system. Phil Jackson‘s presence was heavy in Knicks practices in order to run the triangle offense, as opposed to the quick-moving style that benefitted Hornaceck as head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
Blatt benefitted from the LeBron James factor record-wise, so to judge his effectiveness off an 83-40 record is bad scouting. Blatt will face some sorts of favor from Mills and Robinson considering that all three were teammates at Princeton University, helping to fuel the rumor of Hornacek on the hot seat in only year two.
Considering the shape and uncertainty of the roster, the Blatt experiment in New York would be bound for failure if the goal is to win right now.
As good a basketball mind as Blatt is, he still needs to gain the respect of players in the NBA before taking a head coaching role. If Blatt does return to the NBA, it should be as an assistant first to garner more locker room acceptance from some players that don’t appreciate his style immediately.
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The Knicks are not the best first stop back into the league considering the problems from last season are still being repaired.