Knicks Rumors: Latest Buzz on Jeff Hornacek, Enes Kanter and More
Over the past few years, the New York Knicks haven't been able to escape in-house disorder and significant offseason changes. As the 2017-18 season comes to an end, there's more to the story than a 27-48 record.
With seven games left on the schedule, the Knickerbockers prepare for a turbulent finish. It's more than possible—even likely—Madison Square Garden welcomes a new head coach next year. When a fifth consecutive losing campaign without a playoff appearance factors as only a partial contributor to a bigger ugly picture, the hot seat comes with a sensitive eject button.
What's the temperature on head coach Jeff Hornacek's seat?
Center Enes Kanter has a major decision coming up with a player option for the upcoming year. What did he do to raise some eyebrows?
Finally, there are early rumblings about what position and who the Knicks may target in the 2018 draft. Those inside the organization already have their favorites. Let's peel back the curtain on the latest Knicks buzz.
Jeff Hornacek on the Hot Seat?
On the heels of a 137-128 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets, chatter about Hornacek's shaky job security ramped up. According to New York Post reporter Marc Berman, executive president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry may have their sights set on two particular candidates for the immediate future:
"The feeling around the league is Hornacek won't be brought back by Steve Mills and Scott Perry, and that the club may target Doc Rivers and Mark Jackson."
Rivers coaches the Los Angeles Clippers, while Jackson serves as a broadcast commentator for ESPN and ABC. Both have a history as former Knicks.
The rumors should excite the fanbase, but we've heard chatter in the past connecting Jackson to the job before Mike D'Antoni accepted the role in 2008. A decade later, the position could reopen with the native New Yorker available to take the reins. Many credit him with sparking the Golden State Warriors' ascension, leading them to two playoff appearances during his three-year tenure in the Bay Area from 2011-14.
Despite losing two star players in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers sit two games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference under Rivers. The Knicks front-office executives likely took note of the team's overachievements in those circumstances.
Hornacek isn't officially out, but he's likely going to have a conversation with Mills and Perry about his future once the season ends.
Enes Kanter Switches Agents Ahead of Player-Option Decision
Kanter averages a double-double in 25.7 minutes per contest for the 2017-18 season. He's shown consistency, albeit with limitations at both ends of the court, in his first year with the Knicks.
The 25-year-old center has a player option built into his contract for the upcoming season. He can exercise the option for an $18.6 million price tag or opt out and test the free-agent market.
The Knicks' big man won't weigh up the heavy decision until the offseason out of respect for his teammates. However, he made a subtle move that will help him with the process, per Berman:
"Kanter, who has one year left on his contract worth $18.6 million, is expected to sign with Bartelstein this week, the source said.
"Kanter said recently he was seeking a new agent to help him with his decision, but won’t evaluate his situation until after the season because it would cheat his teammates."
Aside from the actual decision to test the market or not, Kanter hopes to land endorsements abroad after running into conflict with a renowned brand like Nike due to his differences with the Turkish government.
Knicks Focusing on Small Forwards in the 2018 Draft?
We're approximately three months away from the NBA draft, and Knicks executives have started to lock on to certain prospects and a specific position of need, per ESPN.com reporter Ian Begley:
Among the three names mentioned, the Knicks can continue to watch Villanova's Mikal Bridges, who's set to compete in a Final Four matchup against Kansas in San Antonio, Texas this weekend.
Kentucky's Kevin Knox (15.6 points per game) and Michigan State's Miles Bridges (17.1 points per contest) led their respective programs in scoring for the year.
Based on the prospects of interest, the Knicks will look to add size and someone who can compete for rebounds on the wing. At the moment, New York can't afford to skip over a prospect capable of elevating the roster for a player at a specific position.
Nonetheless, there's plenty of time before prospects declare for the 2018 draft, pingpong ball mania sets the order and final decisions change futures for teams as well as incoming rookies.
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