Updated at 7:45 p.m. ET on May 6:
The New York Knicks have reportedly reached out to Frank Vogel's agents in regards to their coaching vacancy. With that in mind, the former Indiana Pacers coach has likely catapulted himself to No. 1 on the team's hot board.
Original story below, posted at 4:15 p.m. ET on May 5:
The New York Knicks made the unexpected move of firing head coach Derek Fisher earlier this season, and assistant coach Kurt Rambis has taken over the job on an interim basis. Will he get the permanent job, or will the front office decide to go in a different direction? Here are the top five candidates:
5) David Blatt, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
Blatt also fell victim to the mid-season firing bug, being let go by the Cavs right before the All-Star break - though that had more to do with his inability to get LeBron James to like him than his ability to coach. A coaching legend in Europe, Blatt had a 83-40 record in his year and half with the Cavs, including a berth in the Finals in his lone full season of NBA coaching experience.
It bears mentioning that Cleveland hired Blatt to develop what they thought would be a young core of players (Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson) - could he finally get that chance to develop a young team centered around Kristaps Porzingis with the Knicks?
4) Frank Vogel, former Indiana Pacers head coach
The Pacers fired Vogel early Friday morning, making him one of the best names available on the market. He wasn't able to lead the Pacers to the Finals, but he did help develop a young roster into a title contender that was able to compete with the Heat. He doesn't have any ties to the Knicks, but his experience and success will at least get him an interview.
3) Patrick Ewing, Charlotte Hornets assistant coach
Ewing is one of the greatest Knicks players ever, so naturally he would be one of the top candidates for te job - especially considering his extensive coaching background. After retiring from the league in 2002, Ewing has spent the past 14 seasons as an assistant with the Wizards, Rockets, Magic and Hornets, where he has been the associate head coach since 2013. He will probably end up as a head coach sooner rather than later, and he would like for that chance to come in New York.
2) Mark Jackson, former Golden State Warriors head coach
Jackson's only three seasons of coaching experience came with the Warriors, who he guided from a 23-43 record in his first year to a 51-31 record in his third year. Though he was fired after that year (2014) and Golden State won the title in 2015, he is credited for building the foundation that has led to the Warriors' success. The Knicks really need a coach that can help build their roster and improve their current players in a similar way, but there are major questions about his ability to get along with members of the front office, which led to his ousting in Golden State.
He also has connections to the Knicks, having been drafted by them in 1987 and playing for them from 1987-1992 and 2001-2002. Jackson is also from Brooklyn and played his college basketball at St. John's.
1) Kurt Rambis, New York Knicks interim head coach
This might be every Knicks fan's worst nightmare (save for Isiah Thomas coming back), but all of the momentum seems to point to Rambis getting the job on a permanment basis. Jackson is stubborn in his desire to run the Triangle offense in New York, and Rambis is one of "his guys" who runs the Triangle. That seems to be all Rambis has going for him given New York's 8-17 record since he took over, but it might be enough.
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