It seemed that the plan was clear. The new Golden State Warriors Head Coach and Phil Jackson disciple Steve Kerr was originally supposed to fill the vacated New York Knicks head coaching position. That had been the plan even before lame duck ex-Knick head coach Mike Woodson was fired last month. Steve Kerr is now a part of the Warriors' organization, and the hunt for a new Knick head coach continues. Names such as Denver Nuggets' coach Brian Shaw, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher, former NBA head coach Mike Dunleavy and ex-Warriors head coach Mark Jackson have been frequently thrown around in the media since Kerr was hired. Technically, Dunleavy is the only one who is jobless, as Shaw, Fisher and Mark Jackson are currently employed by the league or ESPN. Dunleavy and Shaw have the most head coaching experience in the NBA, but Mark Jackson and Fisher appear to be the more attractive options for Phil Jackson and the Knicks' organization. Mark Jackson was let go by the Warriors after leading them to the second round of the postseason last year, losing in six games to the San Antonio Spurs, and a hotly contested seven-game exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round this year. The Warriors players publicly expressed their displeasure at their organization's decision to fire Mark Jackson, since they clearly loved playing for him. Fisher is currently playing in the Western Conference Finals and maintains that he is not focused on the possibility of being the next head coach of the Knicks. Although he is not concentrating on it at the moment, in no more than a month he will shift his focus towards his next potential endeavor. Fisher has previously stated that he will retire at the conclusion of this season, and having been an integral part of Phil Jackson's championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers it seems as if he would be a great fit to instill the triangle offense into this beleaguered Knicks roster. Fisher and Phil Jackson have similar perspectives on the game of basketball, and will surely implement their views on the makeup and style of the Knicks on-court game. The Fisher-Jackson connection is undeniable, and even though Fisher lacks coaching experience, he is one of the smarter players in the league who has been through many championship runs. He has also been the head of the Players' Association, which shows positive leadership qualities the Knicks desperately need in a head coach. Fisher, like Nets head coach Jason Kidd, could make the direct switch from player to coach. Knicks fans and the organization would have to show some patience with a first year coach, as the Brooklyn community did with Kidd. Eventually, Fisher would gain his bearings and have the Knicks moving in the right direction.
Mark Jackson was one of the greatest players to ever put on the orange and blue uniform as a point guard, and will surely be a player and fan favorite if he were to be hired. Unlike Fisher, he would most likely instill a slightly different mindset in the players, but would be guided by Phil Jackson in molding the team. Mark Jackson unfairly had his coaching career halted by the Warriors, but could potentially resume next season if Phil Jackson feels as if he would be a good fit for the organization. As cushy and nice his career as an NBA broadcaster would continue to be, I'm sure Mark Jackson would jump at the opportunity to try and lead his former team back to the Finals. This process of hiring a new coach should be carefully thought out by owner James Dolan and Phil Jackson. They should be in no rush to fill the coaching void, but rather evaluate their options and make the best decision moving forward. Knicks fans have to realize they will need to exercise patience in this process, and that a championship will not come overnight. With the lack of cap space and draft picks they have in the next year, the Knicks may be a few years away from getting back to contention. Regardless of whether or not Carmelo Anthony decides to take a pay cut and remain in New York, the Knicks have to concentrate on hiring the best head coach they can find. Melo's decision is somewhat out of their hands at this point, but the hiring of a coach is completely within their control. Shaw is not available at this juncture, but with the Nuggets' struggles this past season he may be on the market this offseason. That could be unlikely, since the Nuggets have been a regular playoff team in the last decade, but Phil Jackson could definitely lure Shaw to New York if he feels he is the right man for the job. Dunleavy hasn't coached since the 2009-10 season when he was head coach of the hapless Clippers. He had not had a winning season since 2005-06 with Los Angeles, so it has been awhile since Dunleavy has tasted success in the NBA. I do not see the rumors about him coming to fruition with any sort of hiring or offer, since he is the stalest of the candidates. His lengthy experience could be seen as a positive, but it has been a long time since he was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1998-99 with the Portland Trail Blazers. Of these four options, I believe Fisher is the best of the group, even though he lacks any coaching experience in the league. He understands Phil Jackson's philosophies and how to implement them in a team's system. Fisher may endure some growing pains as a head coach, but those will be short lived. In terms of the Knicks returning to glory, that is entirely another matter.
