Knicks Notes: Mike Brown, Ben Simmons, LeBron James

The New York Knicks have retooled their coaching staff after last season’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, hiring former two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau.

Brown has already filled out his staff with several new faces. USC head coach Eric Musselman, who has long-standing ties to both Brown and new assistant Brendan O’Connor, spoke to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post about what the Knicks can expect.

“He is super-detailed, super-organized,” Musselman said of Brown. “That year with the Lakers, his playbook, he wants to make sure it’s color-coded properly. He got a little bit of an NFL, detail-oriented mindset. … Training camp, the drills and the precision … that was real detailed as well.”

Musselman believes Brown’s experience coaching LeBron James in Cleveland, his time with the Lakers, and his championship run as an assistant in Golden State have prepared him for this opportunity.

“I just think his experience of being in Cleveland and who he coached there (LeBron James) and then I think the fact that he coached in L.A. and it’s the Lakers,” Musselman said. “And with the media market in the Bay Area 9with the Warriors), even though he was just an assistant, you can kind of sit back and watch how Coach (Steve Kerr) handles pressure and coaching in playoff situations. And he’s at a perfect age. He has a lot of things going for him.”

Knicks weighing backcourt options

New York still has a 14th roster spot to fill before training camp. According to Bondy,the Knicks have shown interest in free agent guards Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Ben Simmons.

Bondy notes, however, that he has heard “conflicting information” about how strong the team’s interest in Simmons actually is.

A look at LeBron

With James’ future uncertain, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News explored the idea of a trade that could send the Lakers star to New York — breaking down the potential pros and cons of such a move.

For the record, the scenario remains speculation. There has been no indication that James will ask to be traded, nor that the Lakers would consider dealing him.

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