Knicks Rumors: Steve Kerr Hire Means Rebuilding Roster Around Triangle Offense
Knicks rumors regarding the hiring of Steve Kerr will be sent into a frenzy following his long weekend with Phil Jackson. Last week, rumors of Steve Kerr meeting with New York Knicks president Phil Jackson began circulating. After Mike Woodson and his coaching staff were let go, Kerr was quickly named as the most likely candidate for the job.
Confirming the rumors, Steve Kerr spoke on Sunday night about his time with Jackson this weekend. “We will keep talking. There is a lot to cover on both sides. This was the first time we’ve talked about the job. It just opened up last week. We got a lot of things to discuss,” Kerr told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York. Kerr was not in New York to meet with the Knicks only, he still works as an analyst for TNT and was there to broadcast game four of the Brooklyn and Toronto series.
Most of the Knicks rumors surrounding Kerr involve his history with Phil Jackson in Chicago. Kerr, always considered one of Jackson’s more intelligent players, studied the triangle offense under Phil Jackson and Tex Winter. Winter is considered to be the brains behind the triangle offense that Phil Jackson is so well known for. While rumors of the Knicks hiring Steve Kerr continues to gain traction, the real focus is on how to build a roster around the triangle offense.
In order to accomplish that goal, it is no secret that Phil Jackson will have to rebuild the roster. With three expiring contracts, the Knicks have some potential assets heading into the loaded free agent summer of 2015. Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, and Andrea Bargnani will eat up almost $40 million combined next year. If Jackson can move just one or two of those players, the Knicks could pick up serviceable point guard to replace Raymond Felton and an offensive minded big man to replace Chandler. Tyson Chandler is the most likely option to be traded, as he has voiced his disinterest in a rebuilding process.
Of course, any Knicks rumors are incomplete without involving Carmelo Anthony. At this point, it seems that unless he is willing to take less money, his days in New York are over. It is a given that the Knicks will have to throw away next season in order to become the team that Phil Jackson wants them to be. Will Carmelo Anthony be interested in giving money away for a rebuilding process?
If the Knicks do sign Steve Kerr, fans should take it as a sign that the rebuilding efforts have begun and it will be 2015-2016 before they are relevant again. Hold on for a whirlwind of New York Knicks rumors this offseason until the coaching situation is settled.
[Image via Oregon Live]
