Knicks make themselves more attractive to coaching candidates with frontcourt signing

Originally selected No. 16 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Frenchman played for the Celtics in 2017-18 and 2018-19 but more recently played in the EuroLeague with Real Madrid from 2021-24.

He'll provide valuable depth for the Knicks, the league's most top-heavy team last season. Per RealGM, New York led the league in starter minutes (2,894) in 2024-25, with its bench playing just 1,000 minutes.

The Knicks were the only team with a bench unit to score fewer than 2,000 points, ending the regular season with 1,783 (21.7 points per game) on 43.5/35.8/73 percent shooting splits.

On Monday, Charania reported that free-agent guard Jordan Clarkson also intends to sign with the Knicks after clearing waivers, which will further solidify the second unit.

The 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year averaged 16.2 points per game last season with the Utah Jazz in 37 games (nine starts) while shooting 40.8 percent (36.2 percent on three-point attempts).

The Knicks have an excellent opportunity to take the Eastern Conference in 2025-26. The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are dealing with injuries to stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, respectively. 

The Milwaukee Bucks stretch-released injured guard Damian Lillard on Tuesday to make room for center Myles Turner, who agreed to a four-year, $107 million contract. That should help the Bucks this season, but with questions at point guard, they might not be legitimate contenders.

New York's most pressing concern is who will lead it as head coach. But the front office's aggressive moves to improve the bench validate the decision to fire former head coach Tom Thibodeau. 

He wouldn't have been the right coach to maximize the Knicks' growing depth, consistently playing his starters at high rates dating back to his time as the Chicago Bulls head coach.

Per SNY's Ian Begley, 2008-09 and 2022-23 Coach of the Year Mike Brown is interviewing for a second time on Tuesday.

Begley noted New York has also spoken to New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego, former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori and "touched base" with South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley.

Per ESPN BET, the Knicks are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for best odds to win the East this coming season (+290). Last postseason, New York reached the East Finals, losing in six games to the Indiana Pacers, who also defeated the Cavs, 4-1, in the conference semifinals.

New York's next head coach will be entering a pressure cooker, but thanks to the team's early offseason moves, they'll have the ingredients to cook up a championship.