New York Knicks: Doc Rivers' Extension with Celtics Breaks Knicks Fans' Hearts

Knicks fans everywhere looked toward the 2012 offseason as a beacon of hope. 

Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard would just be entering free agency, and with only three players on the roster, the Knicks would be in a position to make a run at them. 

However, that is not the only thing that had Knicks fans drooling over the summer of 2012. 

As we all know, that is when Mike D'Antoni's contract will expire, leaving the Knicks searching for a new coach.  With elite coaches such as Doc Rivers, Jerry Sloan and Phil Jackson all supposedly retiring, we hoped to lure one out to coach the Knicks.

Well, any chance at getting one of those three has been shot down. 

It was just announced that Doc Rivers has signed an extension with the Celtics for five years and $35 million, effectively locking him up for a long period of time and destroying the hopes that we Knicks fans had of stealing him away from Boston. 

This leaves us with just Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan to choose from. 

Although Jerry Sloan is a very unlikely choice, Phil Jackson could possibly fit the bill.  He was on the only two Knicks championship teams in 1970 and 1972, playing alongside Garden legends such as Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Willis Reed and Earl "the Peal" Monroe. 

Hopefully his deep ties with the Knicks and the New York City area can draw him out here from the palm trees of L.A. 

Although I think Doc may have been the better choice for the Knicks, having Phil Jackson as a head coach is in no way a step down.

Overall, Doc Rivers' decision could potentially hurt the Knicks.  If they do not get an elite coach or force Mike D'Antoni to get a defensive specialist on his staff, then there won't be a championship coming to New York any time in the near future. 

Adding a legend like Phil Jackson to this team would be the icing on the cake, hopefully propelling this squad to the championship heights that we all know that they can reach.

How do you think this affects the Knicks?  Let me know by voting in the poll and voicing your opinion in the comments below.