Knicks Rumors: Top Buzz as 2016 Postseason Continues

"Trust in the process" is a popular adage making the rounds in the NBA these days. 

For the Philadelphia 76ers, it meant throwing some trust behind the borderline maniacal-appearing approach by then-general manager Sam Hinkie. It worked out well with the team getting the top pick in the 2016 draft.

Fans of the New York Knicks have to hope for the same with president Phil Jackson, who came out of left field with the apparent hiring of former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek this week while the postseason bracket raged onward, according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck.

Jackson used his own apparent bracket at the same time, shoving aside more popular names such as Frank Vogel, David Blatt and Kurt Rambis. That said, ESPN.com's Ian Begley revealed the two sides have yet to nail down the details:

Marc Berman of the New York Post echoed these sentiments, suggesting folks might have to wait for an official announcement:

It doesn't sound like the move will fall through, though, which at least partially has to give peace of mind to those who want to see the Knicks contend.

Still, this was an unexpected move for a few reasons besides simple name recognition. Folks had every right to expect Jackson to simply pull from his well of recognizable friends, so much so that even Carmelo Anthony had publicly warned he wanted a say in the process.

It doesn't help Begley suggested the coaching search was on hold while Jackson vacationed at the start of May.

Alas, the Knicks seem to have a new head coach, and he's a guy who spent three years with the Suns, the first of those years actually finishing behind Gregg Popovich for Coach of the Year.

It's hard to throw too much of the blame on Hornacek for struggles after and onward, though, as the front office in Phoenix only seemed to want to trot out a lineup of point guards.

The question now is how the addition of Hornacek at head coach impacts the team on and off the court. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, it's not known how notable assistants—who have ties with some pretty important names—will fall into place:

Hornacek alone might not draw the biggest names during free agency—but how he decides to run the team might. 

And this brings up another new, unexpected wrinkle alongside the unexpected hire.

According to Beck, the new coach might do away with Jackson's famous (some would now say infamous) triangle offense: "League sources indicate that the Knicks under Hornacek will indeed move away from a pure triangle approach, but will retain triangle elements (as many NBA offenses do)."

It sure would be nice to talk about the Knicks without having to wonder who fits with the triangle offense, right? 

In fact, CBSSports.com's Ken Berger noted that a dismissal of the triangle would open things up for the Knicks in free agency this summer, with one anonymous figure going so far as to suggest the return of a notable name:

"

With the triangle out, the Knicks will need a traditional point guard. One rival executive suggested Thursday that the Hornacek hiring could pave the way for Linsanity Part II; Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin has a player option this summer in a massive free-agent market and is coming off his best season since leaving New York as a restricted free agent in 2012.

"

This all seems premature without an official announcement, sure. But there's clearly a strong plan in place for the future of the franchise, even if it doesn't show on the court right away.

After failing to hold a notable pick in the upcoming 2016 draft, the Knicks continue to realize a stone-cold truth about the NBA the Los Angeles Lakers have learned in recent years—a great locale and historic franchise is still a losing team and wasteland of ruined (and heightened) expectations if the plan from the top down isn't strong.

Jackson seems to have a plan in place. Anthony has to appreciate the rather extensive coaching search and is still in his prime, and Kristaps Porzingis looks like a future star. Add it all up, and the Knicks might not look like such a terrible idea for free agents now. 

For now, Jackson has avoided a crisis. Hornacek is a great basketball mind, though it's going to take some patience to see this work out, as the talent acquisition has to catch up to the plan. 

After all, it doesn't sound like anyone has even put ink to paper yet.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.