New York Knicks

Reports: New York talked to David Blatt about becoming its head coach

Published Apr. 27, 2016 12:09 p.m. ET

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The New York Knicks are searching for their next head coach, and over the past few weeks, team president Phil Jackson has been all over the map trying to pick the candidate he feels is best for the job.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt is certainly more than qualified, and, to the surprise of many, Jackson interviewed him for the position on Monday, according to multiple reports.

David Blatt met with New York president Phil Jackson about Knicks' coaching job on Monday, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) April 27, 2016

That sound you hear is a brief, collective sigh of relief from millions of Knicks fans who can't believe their favorite team might possibly (potentially) be heading in the right direction.

Is Blatt a perfect coach? Nope. But he also isn't Kurt Rambis or Brian Shaw. He's a highly intelligent basketball coach who's proven himself all over the world, including the NBA. He won't play Kristaps Porzingis at small forward.

Unfortunately, Rambis, who was only 9-19 as the Knicks faltered to the finish after a solid start, is still the favorite (via The Vertical):

Blatt was fired by the Cavaliers after leading them to the NBA Finals last year in his first season and a 30-11 record this season. The longtime successful international coach was a teammate at Princeton with Knicks general manager Steve Mills.

Beyond Blatt's ability to be a smart coach, maximize his players' strengths and minimize their weaknesses, if New York hired him, it'd be viewed as a necessary step from Jackson's firm belief that the triangle is the only offense. The optics would be as good as any head coach hire can be.

Assuming the Knicks sign a point guard who can guard people, shoot and attack off the dribble, their offense might finally embrace the pace-and-space ideology that can free up Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis at their natural positions.

The Cavaliers weren't a thoroughbred under Blatt, but that's likely because he wanted to keep his stars fresh and develop a methodical half-court offense for the postseason. In New York, there's no problem unleashing Porzingis in transition, playing athletes on the wing and attacking from behind the 3-point line.

It's probably the smartest hire Jackson can make, and Knicks fans should already have their fingers crossed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.