The New York Knicks will be the first ones to go after Tom Thibodeau. This is according to The New York Post’s Marc Berman. However, the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets are two other teams that could be interested in his services. The Knicks would have the first shot at Thibs solely because they’re not in the playoff mix.
Thibodeau does have a .647 career win percentage but there’s more to him than just that statistic. He runs key, young players into the ground well he did in Minnesota. You can’t have RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson playing 35/40+ minutes each night. The building blocks of the Knicks future shouldn’t be in the conversation with ‘load management’.
While Thibs did have success in Chicago, that type of mentality and old school ball doesn’t work today. He had a bad flame out in Minnesota for the way he handled the youth there. However, he had Timberwolves make the playoffs for the first time in thirteen years. The Knicks are young just like the Wolves so unless Thibs’ style has changed the team should look elsewhere. Kenny Atkinson has to be looked at in great detail with his reputation on developing players.
With the Rockets and Nets both being interested in Thibs, it’s hard to imagine he’d be a good fit in those places either. Durant and Irving respect Thibs since he was the assistant on the USA men’s national team. But, it appears like that those two would rather Ty Lue instead. As for the Rockets, D’Antoni is at the end of his contract and most likely won’t return since they can’t find a way to make it to the finals. Hard to imagine James Harden falling in line with Thib’s style.
If the Knicks truly want Thibs to be the next coach, Leon Rose has to do his homework. The CAA relationship is a good start but more needs to be done. Rose has to make sure that Thibs’ style of play is going to the be right one for the Knicks youth. The New York Knicks need to hit a home run on the next coaching hire since the last few haven’t been the right fit.