The Knicks made the decision to fire head coach Jeff Hornacek and now the team enters the offseason with a huge vacancy and droves of roster questions. Hours after dismissing Hornacek — and assistant coach Kurt Rambis — president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry explained their decision and outlined their offseason plans, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News relays.
Mills and Perry were honest in their assessment of Hornacek, noting the team wants to see an improvement in communication between the coaches and players.
“The evaluation of Jeff went over the 82 games. We evaluated everything — from practices to games to ability to connect with guys,” Mills said.” I think we need to be better in that area. I think there can be some improvement. It all doesn’t lay at Jeff’s feet, either. But I think that’s something that we could be better at as an organization, and that’s one of the expectations that we have obviously with our next coach, and we have for ourselves as well.”
Below are some more notes from the Mills and Perry end-of-season presser:
- There is no timetable to name a new head coach, but Perry said the team would do the work necessary to find the right replacement. “It’s a very competitive market out there,” he said. “We’re going to do our due diligence and take the time necessary to find the right guy that we feel to take us on a long journey, hopefully.”
- While Joakim Noah remains on a leave from the team, Perry said the team will revisit the situation to see if a return makes sense. “We’ll go and visit the Joakim situation again as we go through the offseason. We won’t take any options off the table for that matter,” Perry said.
- Both Kyle O’Quinn and Michael Beasley, two of the Knicks’ standout players this past season, are set to hit free agency. Perry confirmed the organization’s intention to discuss a reunion with both. “We’re going to visit all that. Obviously, Kyle O’Quinn had a tremendous, tremendous year for us this year. Played very hard,” Perry said. “He’s a New Yorker. Represents a lot about what we want to stand for. So we’d like to bring him back. Obviously we’ll be in contact and visitation with Michael Beasley’s camp to see where that takes us.”
If the plan is to keep Noah, then let O’Quinn and Kanter walk. I like Kornet and I think he needs more playing time as backup center. If they plan to buyout/stretch Noah, then keep O’Quinn. Yeah Kanter is the better offensive player but his defense is not up to par with O’Quinn’s. Honestly I wouldn’t mind if they let both O’Quinn and Kanter walk in hopes that when Porzingis returns he’ll play more center and occasionally at pf with Kornet at center. I can see the Knicks as a lethal team with two seven footers sniping long range.
If O’Quinn opts out and Kanter walks the Knicks should sign O’Quinn to a one and one contract. Reward him with ten million per year.
I’m not at a point to say Kronet should be the primary backup this upcoming season, nor do I think it makes sense to anoint Zinger the starting Center when he’s going to miss at least a couple of months.
I like Kanter, but if he decides to opt out, I would let him walk. I don’t see O’Quinn taking a one year deal, and at 28 years old, I don’t think it’s unreasonable that he’ll get a three year pact in the neighbourhood of $6-$7M a year.
Kanter was the Knicks best player last year and the perfect complement to KP. KO also outplayed his contract. Both want to stay. If their demands are consistent with that, then both need to be resigned – or the regime is incompetent. When you have no cap space (which Mills spent 2 years worth recklessly on THJ and Baker), you sign your guys or do nothing. This regime can’t afford more nothing. Kanter and finding Burke are the only good moves this regime has made, and it’s really only Kanter that has any value.
Porzingis was the league leader in blocks this season before he went down and he played mostly pf. Imagine what he could do defensively as full time center. He’d be only comparable to Embid, Towns, and Davis.
I get it, Kanter was more than solid. But if it will put further dent into 2019 then he’s not worth it. O’Quinn was also more than solid so see if he’s willing to play ball because he his cheaper than Kanter and O’Quinn plays better defense.
Kornet is an asset worth developing. And he’ll be dirt cheap. The only moves the Knicks have to make this offseason are:
1) Headcoach and staff mentally equipped to develop young talent into future assets.
2) Draft well. If available Mikal Bridges, if he slides Porter, and Knox because he’ll be a solid piece.
3) Don’t spend any unnecessary money. Keep the young talent and develop them.
That will be a good offseason. Unless they can trade for another first rounder this year then that’s worth doing.
KP would suffer from playing center right now (maybe for his entire prime), and so would the team – offensively and on the boards FOR CERTAIN, and even defensively. Individually, KP’s metrics (including shot blocking) are better at the 4. When KP played 5 for large stretches two seasons ago, we were 28th in interior defensive efficiency. Last year, when he got hurt, we were 3rd. Right now, paint protection is as important as rim protection. KP is really more a 3 than 5 offensively. Kanter wasn’t just more than solid, his numbers were elite. Not many 24+ PER guys floating around. Moreover, this really wasn’t shocking considering how he was trending. He’s a young 26 and worth investing in as a core piece.
Unless we get a top 3 pick, I agree that Bridges would be the best pick for us. Porter will be a top 6 (likely higher), and there’s little to go on, but that’s what scouts are for.
I don’t think we control Kornet. We have no cap space, so, even if we do, using part of the midlevel on a match doesn’t appeal to me. Spending $$ isn’t a bad thing, unless you overpay. Otherwise, guys can be traded for value.
Teams that don’t re-sign players with 24+ PERs who want to come back on a reasonable contract, and who is popular with his teammates, are bad organizations. Knicks need to stop being that.
Very informative. Ty
Blatt would make a good teaching coach for this young team.