Knicks HC Rumors: New York to Interview Kenny Smith for Vacancy

Kenny Smith is reportedly a candidate to become the New York Knicks' next head coach.

According to an ESPN.com article, a source told Stephen A. Smith the Knicks will interview the TNT analyst for the position Friday.

Smith has never coached at the NBA level, but he played for the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic from 1987 through 1997.

David Fizdale, Mark Jackson, David Blatt and Jerry Stackhouse are the Knicks' top four candidates for the position, according to ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski, and each will interview with the team.

The ESPN.com article also noted the Knicks received permission to discuss the position—which is open after they fired Jeff Hornacek at the conclusion of the 2017-18 campaign—with Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson. The Knicks fired Woodson as head coach following the 2013-14 season, and he "isn't considered to be in the top tier of initial candidates," according to the report.

Regardless of who New York ultimately hires, the team's next head coach will be walking into an ongoing rebuild.

The Knicks have made the playoffs just four times in the past 17 years and have missed the last five postseasons. They also figure to be without Kristaps Porzingis at the start of the 2018-19 season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL.

Following a 31-win campaign in 2016-17, the Knicks won just 29 games this past season. If they're without Porzingis for a portion of the 2018-19 season, playoff contention isn't likely to be in the cards.

Smith doesn't have any NBA coaching experience, but he has been around the league for decades as either a player or an analyst. If the Knicks do wind up hiring him, he would at least have a superstar in Porzingis to build around.