Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Kristaps Porzingis A Key For Knicks To Get Russell Westbrook From Thunder

Lakers News: Russell Westbrook not too keen signing with Los Angeles in free agency Kristaps Porzingis A Key For Knicks To Get Russell Westbrook From Thunder
Benjamin Gardner | 14 February, 2016, 18:43

Coaches such as Tom Thibodeau, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Hornacek, David Blatt and Scott Brooks are available.

One name that is being mentioned for the job is due to this summer and a particular players impending free agency, as Ian Begley of ESPN New York talked about the Knicks potentially pursuing former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks as a way of being able to lure Kevin Durant in free agency this summer.

"The Knicks have a real chance to sell Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook in 2017-New York and (forward Kristaps) Porzingis have his attention, yes-and (team president Phil) Jackson ought to start constructing an elite coaching staff to begin that process with Westbrook and with free agents beyond him", Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski wrote.

While the Knicks did show promise early in the year, things have fallen apart recently, which led to the recent firing of head coach Derek Fisher. As noted here previously, Fisher was going to be a factor in Durant's free agency this summer.

There has been a lot of chatter lately suggesting that the Golden State Warriors will be in the mix for Kevin Durant when he becomes a free agent after the season. Ask 10 different people the latest rumor on where Durant will go, you'll probably get 10 different answers. Durant played for Brooks for seven years, going deep into the NBA Playoffs.

This is a news item because, ultimately, Durant's status as one of the game's top players makes his future contract decision one that could change the National Basketball Association landscape completely.

The only problem for Brooks, like numerous candidates, is that Jackson does not have a prior relationship with him, and he does not run the Triangle Offense. If they can trade Anthony for a point guard, that might be the best way to accommodate Durant. Brooks has never played for a team with Jackson as the head coach, and he has never coached underneath him, either.

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