Kurt Rambis Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Coaching Rumors: Scott, Walton, Thibodeau, Rambis

April 26th, 2016 at 3:37pm CST by Chuck Myron

Lakers primary owner Jeanie Buss essentially confirmed the report from USA Today’s Sam Amick that she wasn’t involved in the decision to fire Byron Scott, saying in an appearance on FS1’s “The Herd” show that she didn’t know such a move was coming, nor did she anticipate it taking place, as Kristine Leahy of FS1 tweets. Buss was reportedly advocating behind the scenes for the front office to retain Scott, as Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported earlier this month. Still, she expressed support for brother Jim Buss, the team’s executive VP of basketball operations and reportedly one of the decision makers regarding Scott’s fate, as he faces a deadline to turn the team around within the year, tweets Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. “I have no reason to think that he cannot be successful in terms of putting together a winning team,” Jeanie Buss said.

See more on the Lakers amid the latest coaching rumors around the league:

People around the league feel that Warriors assistant Luke Walton is a favorite for the Lakers job, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, but the Lakers are uncertain about Walton’s relative youth and just how well the 36-year-old would perform as a full-time head coach, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Regardless, the Lakers appear to be making the ability to recruit free agents their top priority in a new coach, a league source told Deveney, and Kupchak said Monday on Time Warner Cable Access SportsNet that they’d like to make a hire before the June 23rd draft, as Medina relays.
New Timberwolves coach/executive Tom Thibodeau would have accepted a coaching job without player personnel control on the Knicks, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com hears. However, the Knicks got the impression the opposite was true, and team president Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills didn’t feel they’d get along with Thibs, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. Owner James Dolan was nonetheless intrigued with the former Coach of the Year, league sources told Begley. Jackson is still leaning toward removing the interim tag from the head coaching title of Kurt Rambis, Berman writes in the same piece.

Latest On The Knicks’ Coaching Search

April 24th, 2016 at 10:05am CST by Arthur Hill

David Blatt was never a serious candidate to become the next coach of the Knicks, tweets veteran NBA reporter Peter Vecsey. Blatt’s name was floated as a smokescreen, Vecsey reports, and interim coach Kurt Rambis remains the only candidate for the position. According to Vecsey, the agent for new Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau contacted the Knicks to express his client’s interest, but team president Phil Jackson had no desire to talk to Thibodeau.

Blatt was reported as a candidate earlier this month, and Jackson was believed to have a positive image of the former Cavaliers coach who was a teammate of Knicks GM Steve Mills at Princeton. Blatt, who guided Cleveland to the NBA finals last season, has been mentioned for several open coaching jobs since he was fired in January.

There’s more this morning out of New York:

Hiring the right coach is Jackson’s most important job this offseason, and he should consider someone other than the expected candidates, writes Bobby Marks of The Vertical. He lists Jim Cleamons, Bill Cartwright, Brian Shaw, Frank Hamblen, Derek Fisher and Rambis as failed coaches with a past connection to Jackson. Marks also writes that the Knicks need to fix their thin bench, and notes that more cap space will be available for that task if Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams opt out. But he adds that the coaching job must be filled first, and that will determine the type of players the Knicks should pursue.
Jackson is blaming former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy for the negative publicity surrounding the Knicks and his performance as president, according to Bob Raissman of The New York Daily News. Longtime Jackson friend Charley Rosen wrote recently that Jackson has been “unfairly denigrated as being misguided and incompetent” by the media and he believes “power-playing” Van Gundy is behind the effort. Van Gundy coached the Knicks from 1995 to 2002, compiling a 248-172 record. He is rumored to be the favorite to become the next coach of the Rockets.

Atlantic Notes: Colangelo, Holland, Rambis

April 23rd, 2016 at 2:31pm CST by Eddie Scarito

New Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo indicated that he is unlikely to make dramatic changes to the team’s front office personnel this summer, Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine relays. “It’s important to point out that I didn’t come in here with the notion that I was just going to torch the place and start anew,” Colangelo told Bodner. “There’s a lot of smart people here, even to the point where it’s fully in line with some of the thinking that I’ve already been migrating towards over the last several years. The team that’s here now, for all intents and purposes, more or less will be the same.” The executive did provide himself a little wiggle room on his statement, adding that the team is still “evaluating what’s here, and discussing the roles and responsibilities,” Bodner notes.

The executive also noted that navigating the free agency waters this offseason would be tricky given that the team’s roster is still unsettled, Bodner relays. “As much as I want to say ‘Let’s go complement those players,’ I think we’re still looking for that cornerstone piece to start with,” Colangelo said. “That’s not to say that some of the young guys on the current roster can’t ultimately become that, and it’s not doubting that, it’s just saying, as we speak today, nobody has stepped into that role of star player. We’re looking for our first star. This year there’s a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknowns. We have to let some of it play out. This might not be the year that a big splash is made in free agency, but key pieces, or glue pieces, what I’ll call team building pieces, will be added to try to put a balanced roster on the court for coach [Brett] Brown.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Celtics used $25K of their room exception to sign John Holland to his two-year deal, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insider relays (via Twitter). Utilizing that sliver of the exception allowed Boston to pay Holland $25K for the remainder of this season instead of the $9,266 he would have earned if he had simply signed a minimum-salary arrangement.
If Kurt Rambis is named coach of the Knicks, a major reshuffling of his coaching staff is likely, with assistant coaches Brian Keefe, Joshua Longstaff and David Bliss all candidates to join Scott Brooks and the Wizards, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. All three previously worked under Brooks when he was coach of the Thunder and were brought to New York by former coach Derek Fisher, Berman notes. The Post scribe also adds that Rambis has been said to carry an arrogance about him that could turn off younger players, especially since his career coaching record of 65-164 doesn’t warrant such bravado.

Knicks Notes: Thibodeau, Blatt, Rambis, ‘Melo

April 21st, 2016 at 10:05am CST by Chuck Myron

Kristaps Porzingis was largely unknown to Knicks fans a year ago, but his strong rookie year quickly made him a sensation in New York, where a four-minute film called “Porzingod” that takes a playful approach with the hopes and dreams attached to the 20-year-old 7-footer will debut today at the Tribeca Film Festival, as Marc Berman of the New York Post details. Such optimism is unlikely to emerge from the draft this year for the Knicks, who have a pick in neither the first nor the second round. See the latest on the blue-and-orange:

The Knicks didn’t reach out to former assistant Tom Thibodeau this spring before he took the Timberwolves job on Wednesday, sources told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Knicks president Phil Jackson has spoken with Luke Walton, casually or otherwise, but for now, interim coach Kurt Rambis and David Blatt are the only candidates New York is seriously considering for its coaching vacancy, Begley hears.
Blatt’s adaptability is part of what makes him appealing to the Knicks, Berman writes in a separate piece. Jackson, who’s expected to interview the former Cavs coach, has respect for the Princeton offense Blatt has sometimes employed, as Berman previously reported, though one NBA personnel director who’s spoken to the Cavs said Blatt would certainly be willing to run the triangle for the Knicks, according to Berman. Still, Blatt isn’t the favorite, Berman cautions. Berman heard from one scout who suggested that hiring Blatt would torpedo any longshot hope at landing LeBron James, but the same was said about James returning to the Cavs when they hired Blatt two years ago.
Carmelo Anthony was among the Knicks in attendance as the Knicks’ triangle seminar began this week, and Jackson played the role of coach for a day as he took the lead in imparting lessons about the offensive system, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Rambis was also involved, which supports the belief that he’ll ultimately have his interim tag removed, Bondy observes. That Jackson organized the event further signals his willingness to stick around for the long haul in the wake of his Thursday declaration that he intends to stay for his whole five-year contract, Berman writes.

Latest On Luke Walton, Knicks

April 19th, 2016 at 9:29am CST by Chuck Myron

Luke Walton says his recent chat with Knicks team president Phil Jackson wasn’t a job interview, as the Warriors assistant coach tells Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group. Conflicting reports emerged in the past few days about whether it was an interview, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said it couldn’t have been, since Golden State has yet to give Walton permission to interview elsewhere, notes Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Kerr told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated that no team has even asked for permission (Twitter link). That throws into question the idea that Walton interviewed for the since-filled Nets job, as had also been reported.

“I talked to Phil, but I always talk to Phil. He’s a mentor of mine,” Walton said to Kawakami. “There was no job interview whatsoever. It was just a conversation which is not that rare for Phil and I to have.”

Marc Berman of the New York Post suggests that the Knicks are likely to interview David Blatt, citing Jackson’s respect for the Princeton offense Blatt’s teams have used on occasion. Berman also says the team will likely interview Brian Shaw, a triangle devotee. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com earlier reported New York’s interest in Blatt, a longtime friend of Knicks GM Steve Mills.

Still, interim coach Kurt Rambis remains a central figure and a candidate to be formally named Knicks head coach. He’s involved in two practices that Jackson has organized for this week that amount to a seminar of sorts on the triangle offense, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Kristaps Porzingis, Jerian Grant, Jose Calderon, Tony Wroten and soon-to-be free agent Langston Galloway are expected to attend, Isola hears.

Knicks Notes: Jackson, Anthony, Rambis

April 17th, 2016 at 10:03am CST by ChrisCrouse

Team president Phil Jackson expects free agents to be more open to signing with the Knicks this summer than last offseason because of the team’s increase in wins and the presence of Kristaps Porzingis, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “We’re talking about a team in the making,” Jackson said. “We’ve had so many people come up to us and say they really want to play [with] a guy like KP. … So we feel we have an attractive product here.”

Here’s more out of New York:

Carmelo Anthony has mixed feelings on the triangle and he believes most players just want to be comfortable in a system, Berman adds in the same piece. Anthony, who has repeatedly expressed his interest in being a part of the Knicks‘ free agent process, believes adding players who fit the system will be a delicate issue this offseason. “I think it’s a fine line going after guys who can fit into the system and going after guys who can just play basketball and can bring a winning attitude to this,” Anthony said.
Veteran players on the Knicks lobbied for Jerian Grant and the other younger members of the team to get more playing time earlier in the season, but coach Kurt Rambis and Jackson scoffed at the idea, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Jackson believed that Grant couldn’t contribute to the team’s win total.
Rambis finished the season 9-19 since taking over for Derek Fisher and would like an opportunity to build on his time with the Knicks, Bondy writes in a separate piece. “I want to be the head coach here,” Rambis said. “I think we can continue to get better as a ballclub and we can continue to improve, but that’s a decision that’s out of my hands.”

Knicks Notes: Anthony, Thomas, Jackson

April 15th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Small forward Carmelo Anthony made it clear to the team in his exit interview that it needs to take advantage of the “window that he has” when making personnel moves this offseason, Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays. Anthony, who met with team president Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills on Thursday and said that the trio had a “very honest” conversation about the future of the franchise, Begley notes. “I think that’s the main question,” Anthony said. “How can we take advantage of this window? How can we take advantage of this situation that we have in front of us?”

“What is successful for us as the New York Knicks?” Anthony continued. “I think that is kind of the question that we have to ask ourselves as a whole organization. … Getting back and being in the postseason, that’s success for me. And not just sliding in and barely getting into the eighth seed. That is not success for me. Being in there, having some type of prominence, having a chance to compete to the next round and move further, that is success for me.”

Here’s more from New York:

Jackson noted that he would interview interim coach Kurt Rambis for the team’s head coaching slot, but added that he also intends to speak with other candidates with whom he has a relationship, the ESPN scribe relays in the same piece. “People I probably know will be in the interview process,” Jackson said. “I will reach out to make connections to some people. But I’ve been in this position, in the NBA, over 50 years. And I’ve seen a lot of situations where coaches end up coming in without [being] simpatico with the general manager, and those things don’t work well. So someone who has compatibility with what I do as a leader would have to be in sync with what we do.“
Anthony, who has intimated that he wants to be involved in the team’s offseason decisions, noted that he wants a wide-ranging search for the next coach, Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal relays (Twitter links). The small forward added that no discussion has taken place about him waiving his no-trade clause this summer so the team can deal him.
Jackson scoffed at the notion the Knicks would abandon the triangle offense and mentioned his past success with the system, saying, “Who are these people? [who criticize the offense] Do they have 11 championships?,” Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News relays (Twitter links). For his part, Anthony said that team management should consider all coaches in its search, not just those who are familiar with the triangle, Al Iannazzone of Newsday tweets.
Power forward Kristaps Porzingis isn’t pleased with how his rookie season went, but referred to it as a good learning experience, writes George Willis of The New York Post. “We didn’t do as good as we could have,” Porzingis said. “Our team was talented enough to make the playoffs, and we didn’t do that. There were a lot of things we could have done much better. It’s going to be a good learning experience for me. Now I know what to expect going into my second season.”
The Knicks hope to re-sign Lance Thomas this offseason, but the combo forward is in line for a raise from the $1,636,842 he earned in 2015/16, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. League sources tell the Post scribe that Thomas could warrant a mid-level contract starting in the range of $4.5MM per season.

Knicks Notes: Jackson, Rambis, Anthony, Dolan

April 14th, 2016 at 6:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks president Phil Jackson will consider other coaching candidates beyond Kurt Rambis, but only if he knows them well and they believe in the triangle offense, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Jackson said the coaching search could stretch through July, presumably to see if Golden State assistant Luke Walton would be interested. Jackson admitted the Knicks “came apart at the end of the season,’’ finishing 9-19 after Rambis took over, but he added that the interim coach will get an interview. Berman lists Brian Shaw, Bill Cartwright, Rick Fox and Scott Brooks as others likely to be interviewed. Jackson may also take the recommendation of GM Steve Mills and talk to former Cavaliers coach David Blatt.

Ex-Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau may be left off that list, as Jackson is devoted to the triangle and lashed out at critics of the approach. “That’s what I was brought here for — to install a system,’’ he said. “That’s all part of the package. Who are these people? Do they have 11 championships to talk about?”

There’s more postseason news from New York:

Jackson would like to bring free agents Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas back next season, Berman tweets. That also applies to Derrick Williams if he doesn’t decide to opt out of his $4.598MM deal.
There has been speculation about Carmelo Anthony forcing his way out of New York if the Knicks don’t have a productive summer in free agency, and the veteran forward said again today that his greatest desire is to win, tweets Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal. “I’ve thought about [playing somewhere else],” said Anthony, who could waive his no-trade clause and demand to be dealt elsewhere. “Only thing I think about is winning more, whether it’s here or somewhere else.” (Twitter link).
The coaching decision will be vital to Anthony and owner James Dolan, according to Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. Isola calls on Dolan to order a meeting with Anthony and Jackson where they can discuss their vision of the next coach. The columnist also urges Jackson to give up on the triangle and adjust to “the modern NBA,” which includes interviewing Thibodeau, Blatt, Brooks, Mark Jackson and Patrick Ewing.

Latest On Knicks Coaching Situation

April 12th, 2016 at 8:58am CST by Chuck Myron

David Blatt is a long shot for the Knicks head coaching job unless team president Phil Jackson defers to GM Steve Mills, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reported Monday that the Knicks are considering the former Cavaliers coach and that Jackson views him favorably. Kurt Rambis, the interim head coach, remains a strong candidate to secure the job on a long-term basis, Begley wrote, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll remain with the Knicks as either the top offensive assistant or assistant GM, sources tell Berman.

That’s despite the general feeling in the locker room that Rambis talks down to the players, as one Knicks player told Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Sources previously indicated to Berman that Rambis doesn’t have the same level of respect from the players that former coach Derek Fisher did. Carmelo Anthony has said he’d like for the Knicks to at least listen to candidates aside from Rambis, though Anthony delivered praise for the interim boss Sunday, as Begley chronicles (ESPN Now link).

“He was kind of a big-time influence in what we had going on early in the season and even last year, being the associate head coach,” Anthony said. “But just the way that he was able to jump right in there [after taking over], get guys’ attention and get guys to play — usually in that situation it takes time. Most people put in a new system, a new offense, a new defensive scheme. He jumped right in there because it was the same system.”

Rambis has close ties to Jackson, sharing the same agents, as Berman points out, but renewed speculation emerged Sunday that Jackson, who can opt out after next season, will remain team president for no more than another year, Isola relays. Berman suggests that hiring Blatt would represent a transition of sorts to Mills, who played college ball with Blatt at Princeton. Blatt was an usher at Mills’ wedding, according to Berman. Isola advocates for the Knicks to hire Tom Thibodeau, but Jackson, who remains in contact with Bulls executive John Paxson, isn’t impressed with the ex-Bulls coach, as Berman pointed out recently.

Knicks Consider David Blatt For Coaching Job

April 11th, 2016 at 4:11pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Knicks are giving David Blatt consideration for their head coaching job, sources tell Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Team president Phil Jackson has a favorable view of the former Cavaliers coach who played with Knicks GM Steve Mills at Princeton, according to Begley. Interim head coach Kurt Rambis remains a strong candidate to win the removal of his interim tag, but Jackson plans to do his due diligence and consider others, league sources tell Begley.

Jackson has reportedly been pulling for Rambis from the start of his interim gig, and Begley and ESPN colleague Marc Stein reported just last week that Jackson was pushing for Rambis to get a long-term deal as head coach. However, owner James Dolan is reportedly researching potential front office replacements for Jackson, and Rambis hasn’t distinguished himself with a 9-18 mark since taking over on the bench.

A wide-ranging search would seemingly be the preference of Carmelo Anthony, who’s said he’d like Jackson to at least listen to other candidates for the head coaching job. Sources recently indicated to Marc Berman of the New York Post that former head coach Derek Fisher drew more respect from Knicks players than Rambis does.

Blatt didn’t always have command of the locker room in Cleveland, where his relationship with LeBron James was a matter of close scrutiny. Blatt’s camp believes James was the sole catalyst for the team’s coaching change from Blatt to Tyronn Lue earlier this season, as TNT’s David Aldridge reported.

In any case, Blatt comes to the table with a much more impressive record than Rambis has. The Cavs made the finals last summer under Blatt’s watch and went 83-40 overall during his tenure. Rambis is 65-163 all-time as an NBA head coach, though with decidedly less talent on his rosters. Blatt, the former Russian national team coach, also figures to be a candidate for the head coaching job of the Russian-owned Nets, who have an interim coach of their own in Tony Brown.