Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
You can add San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Will Hardy to the list of coaches the Knicks plan to interview during their search.
New York plans to speak to at least 8-10 coaches during a head-coaching search that will likely stretch into next month and conclude -- at the latest -- by the end of July, as SNY reported Tuesday.
The Knicks' plan to interview Hardy was first reported by ESPN, which stated that San Antonio had given New York permission to interview the assistant, who is well regarded within the Spurs organization.
Some in the coaching community see Hardy as the most likely internal candidate to replace legendary coach Gregg Popovich if/when Popovich decides to retire. That's just speculation among coaches and those with a vested interest in the industry, but it's an indication of how Hardy is viewed within the San Antonio organization.
Here is more background information on Hardy, who joined Popovich's bench as an assistant coach in 2019.
Hardy joins a growing list of candidates who are expected to be interviewed for the Knicks job. That includes Chicago Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, which was first reported by SNY on Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant Ime Udoka and Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany.
They join a group of veteran coaches including ex-Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, former Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson expected to interview for the opening.
Interim head coach Mike Miller will also get an interview with the Knicks. Team president Leon Rose was thoroughly impressed by Miller in the brief time he spent around the coach this season (prior to the suspension of the year due to coronavirus), as SNY reported.
Miller will likely get an offer to be an assistant -- or to take on another role in the organization -- if Rose doesn't name him head coach.
It's unclear who else New York will interview. Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson both have fans in the organization. There is some support in the organization for Kidd to be among those who get an interview for the opening, per sources. Spurs assistant Becky Hammon was described by a source as a name to keep an eye on for a potential interview, as Newsday first reported.
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The Knicks began reaching out to potential candidates outside of Atkinson, Miller, Woodson and Thibodeau in recent days, per sources.
There is also some interest in bringing in former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown in for an interview, per sources. It would make sense if other ascendant assistant coaches, such as Milwaukee's Darvin Ham and Utah's Johnnie Bryant, get an audience with New York.
Agents and coaches who have a vested interest in the Knicks' process have long believed that Rose is most likely to hire Thibodeau. But there is legitimate internal support for Atkinson, as SNY reported last week.
As for the other candidates, Udoka, 42, was an assistant under Popovich with the Spurs for seven seasons before joining Brett Brown's staff in Philadelphia for the 2019-20 season. Udoka is Brown's lead assistant. In San Antonio, Udoka aided in the player development of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Dejounte Murray and others. Player development is seen as a pivotal for New York, which has several young players on the roster.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Udoka played seven seasons in the NBA, including a brief stint with the Knicks is 2005-06.
Delany, meanwhile, hats been an assistant with Orlando for five seasons after rising through the Miami Heat organization, where he spent one season as their G League head coach and worked with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. He also spent four seasons as an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets.
Delany has worked with several established players early in their careers, including Kemba Walker, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac. He's coached under Steve Clifford, who coached with Thibodeau in New York.
Fleming has coached in Denver and Brooklyn. With the Nets, he was one of Atkinson's lead assistants. Fleming has also coached the German men's national team.
The Knicks' plans to interview Udokah were first reported by The Athletic. The club's plans to interview Delany were first reported by ESPN.
If they aren't hired as the head coach, Woodson, Miller and other candidates outside of Atkinson and Thibodeau could be added as assistants on the new coaching staff.