Former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. (Photo : Getty Images)
The New York Knicks "agree in principle" to hire Jeff Hornacek as the team's new head coach next season.
After setting up interviews to several candidates such as former NBA head coaches David Blatt and Frank Vogel and passing up chances to acquire Tom Thibodeau and Scott Brooks, the Knicks finally decided to choose someone who is not familiar with the triangle offense and is not a direct disciple of team president Phil Jackson, which is contrary to earlier reports.
The New York Daily News indicated that Hornacek's impending hiring "feels like a concession from Jackson, who was initially adamant that New York's next chief bench tactician must use the system that won him 11 titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
According to sources, Hornacek will be given the leeway to utilize any type of offense he wants moving forward, but that is not to discount the triangle altogether. The report said that "it's a freedom that was not afforded to Derek Fisher", who was fired on Feb. 8 of this year for not executing the triangle properly and leading the Knicks to a 23-31 record.
ESPN noted that with Hornacek on board, "it is unclear whether the Knicks will continue to run the triangle" and interim head coach Kurt Rambis' future has also become "unclear".
There are speculations that Rambis will stay in the Knicks' coaching staff as Hornacek's lead assistant, possibly to still inject some variation of triangle as Jackson may have wanted, but the decision is said to be "ultimately" in the new head coach's hand. It should also be noted, though, that the two have mutual respect for each other as they had been Suns teammates from 1989 to 1991.
Hornacek used a modern offensive system in his head coaching stint with the Suns from 2013 up to February of this year, which relied heavily on guard play, up-tempo pace, and three-point shooting, things that seem opposite to the principles of Jackson's triangle.
With his hiring, it looks like the Knicks are ready to adapt to the new basketball style in the NBA.
However, Hornacek does not have the type of guards he had in Phoenix in the existing New York roster, which is more frontcourt heavy with Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and Robin Lopez, so it is interesting to find out how he will make it work.
