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New York Knicks head coach interviews reach double digits

ByKenneth Teape|
MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 25: Assistant Coach Juwan Howard of the Miami Heat talks with a official during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on November 25, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Heat defeated the Grizzlies 90-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 25: Assistant Coach Juwan Howard of the Miami Heat talks with a official during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on November 25, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Heat defeated the Grizzlies 90-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks continue to expand their head coaching search, as their interviewed candidates have reached double digits.

It was not a big surprise when the New York Knicks decided to part ways with head coach Jeff Hornacek. After defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final game of the 2017-18 regular season, Hornacek was relieved of his duties hours later once the team arrived back in New York.

In two seasons with the Knicks, Hornacek compiled a record of 60-104. Not much was working in his favor those two seasons as the roster saw overhauls both seasons. The biggest knock against him could have been that he was Phil Jackson‘s guy.

Jackson was relieved of his duties as president of basketball operations days after the 2017 NBA Draft. Scott Perry was brought in as general manager, with Steve Mills, the general manager under Jackson, taking over as president.

Heading into their first offseason together in management, it makes sense that they would want to find their own head coach. They have a vision for the team and want to shape it to that vision. Finding a new head coach is the first step in that vision.

After Hornacek was let go, Scott Perry said that the search would be an open one.

In that regard, they have truly not disappointed. This weekend, two more candidates were revealed that are going to get interviews.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, via ESPN‘s Zach Lowe, the Knicks are planning to interview Miami Heat assistant coach, Juwan Howard. The interview was expected to occur over the weekend.

Like many of the candidates that the Knicks have interviewed, Howard has a connection to one of the management members. For Howard, it’s Perry, who was an assistant coach at Michigan while Howard was there as part of the fabled Fab Five.

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Howard played 19 seasons in the NBA before joining the coaching ranks. He has been an assistant with the Heat since 2013 when his playing career came to an end. Howard played the final three seasons of his career with Miami.

In addition to Howard, the Knicks are also expected to interview San Antonio Spurs assistant, James Borrego. League sources said that New York received permission from San Antonio to interview him. Borrego knows Perry from their time together with the Orlando Magic.

With Howard and Borrego now being interviewed, that brings the Knicks up to 10 interviewed candidates. This week New York held multiple interviews.

Boston Celtics assistant coach, Jay Larranaga, interviewed in between Game 3 and Game 4 of the Celtics’ first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics advanced to the second round of the postseason, so unless Larranaga blows Perry and Mills away, he is probably a long shot to land the job.

Mike Woodson, who coached the team for two-plus seasons, also interviewed for the job. Woodson was the head coach for the most successful team since Jeff Van Gundy was on the sidelines in the late 90s, early 2000s. TNT analyst Kenny Smith was also interviewed. Woodson is not considered among the top tier of candidates, and it is unclear where Smith stands.

The other five candidates that have been interviewed are Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, David Fizdale, Mike Budenholzer and David Blatt.

Stackhouse and Fizdale made strong cases to become the next head coach in the Big Apple, but the top tier of candidates, right now, appears to be Jackson, Budenholzer and Blatt.

Jackson seems to be the fan favorite. He was drafted by the Knicks in 1987 and won the Rookie of the Year award. He was the head coach of the Golden State Warriors for three seasons before being replaced by Steve Kerr. However, he seems to have fallen behind Budenholzer and Blatt in the pecking order.

Budenholzer and the Hawks agreed to part ways following the 2017-18 season. He met with the Knicks last weekend. Earlier this week, the Knicks met with Blatt in Europe, and it seems that they have narrowed their candidates down to him and Budenholzer, according to the New York Times‘ Marc Stein.

Blatt has strong ties and history with Mills. Both attended Princeton, and Mills was advocating for Blatt to get the job when Jackson hired Hornacek. However, Blatt has no prior relationship with Perry, so he will have to convince the GM that he is someone that can connect with players and help recruit free agents.

Depending on who you ask, you will get differing answers about that last part. Blatt’s success in Europe is matched by few people, but he was run out of Cleveland in his second season as head coach after the team made the NBA Finals in his first season.

Next: New York Knicks - 5 candidates To replace Jeff Hornacek

If Blatt can convince Perry he is the man for the job, as Mills seems to think, this job could very easily be his. Unless he or Budneholzer are hired for another job, it seems likely, right now, that one of those two men will be head coach for the Knicks in the 2018-19 season.

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