New York Knicks president Phil Jackson is expected to name a new head coach this summer as his first order of business with sources indicating that the legendary coach already has a short list of possible coaches.
Yahoo Sports NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Jackson is expected to name a coach who is familiar with the triangle offense - Jackson's preferred offensive system, which helped him capture 11 NBA titles as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sources indicated that Steve Kerr, who played under Jackson during the Bulls' title run from 1996 to 1998, is reportedly on top of Jackson's list of possible replacement for Mike Woodson, who is expected to be sacked after the current season.
According to report, Jackson previously talked to Kerr about his interest in coaching when the Sacramento Kings was on the verge of moving to Seattle, wherein the 11-time champion coach was supposed to take full control of the team's front office.
"They're going to implement a system here - the triangle offense - and Jackson plans to pursue Steve Kerr to come coach the Knicks. Jackson had convinced Kerr to come to Seattle as his coach, league sources told Yahoo Sports, only to have those plans foiled when a purchase agreement with the Sacramento Kings fell apart," Wojnarowski wrote.
Kerr said that he is aware of the rumors linking him to a possible coaching job, but he insisted that it is improper to talk about it because Woodson is still at the helm.
"It's very awkward because it is just speculation," Kerr said, via NY Daily News. "More than anything, you're talking about somebody else's job."
Kerr, who previously served as Phoenix Suns general manager before becoming a TNT analyst, admitted, though, that he is very interested in becoming an NBA head coach in the near future.
"I've been talking about it the last couple years," Kerr said of becoming an NBA head coach. "I left Phoenix when I was the general manager knowing I didn't want to get back into management but feeling like coaching would be a possibility at some point. I love being on the floor with the players and as a GM I was like there one percent of the time. I love the game."
Aside from Kerr, previous rumors indicated that current Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw and former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan are also being considered to handle the Knicks next season.
