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League sources told The Athletic that while Staley impressed during her conversation with team president Leon Rose and other members of the Knicks’ front office, she was not considered a finalist to fill the vacancy left when the team fired head coach Tom Thibodeau following the franchise’s first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years.
Knicks still closely monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo's situation
It is my understanding that Leon Rose and company have been monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation in Milwaukee very closely, even before the offseason started. Many around the league believe the Knicks are interested in star hunting, and while that opportunity hasn’t popped up yet, I certainly believe it’s in the cards if the right situation presents itself.
As for the Mikal Bridges extension, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that New York waited this long into the summer to get it done. The Giannis situation has lingered (and is continuing to somewhat linger), but people I’ve talked to are fairly confident Antetokounmpo will start next season with Milwaukee. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Knicks signed Bridges to an extension before Aug. 6.
Mikal Bridges officially signs extension with Knicks
Ian Begley: NYK president Leon Rose on Mikal Bridges as Knicks announce extension: "Mikal is a unique talent who possesses a skillset & durability that very few players in this league have & his abilities on both sides of the court in every game made him a vital part of our team's success.”
James Edwards III: Mikal Bridges is here again to watch the Knicks game, sitting near the front office. He's eligible for an extension this summer. Him being here and sitting next to Mike Brown, Leon Rose and Co. is a good sign that something will get done.
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Austin Rivers sounds off on his former head coach Tom Thibodeau: He didn't treat me well at all
Speaking on his The Ringer podcast "Off Guard with Austin Rivers," Rivers spoke frankly about his understandable grievances with the way Tom Thibodeau and Knicks general manager Leon Rose handled Rivers' quick tenure with the team. "I'm not really a Thibs guy. I played for him, it wasn't the best experience personally, didn't treat me well at all," Rivers said.
"And the way it went down and the way they handled business was crazy, bro," Rivers revealed. "They brought me to a dark room, it was Leon [Rose], Worldwide Wes [Knicks executive vice president and senior basketball advisor William Wesley], and Thibs. They're all three sitting there in the dark, with like a little light, it's like an interrogation-type thing. 'Hey man, we're gonna move you, we just got Derrick here. Until we find the right spot with you, you don't have to travel with the team anymore.'"
Michael Rubin on Knicks fans: Knicks were a couple years ago, people thought they were always a team that was a joke and they pulled that together. Leon Rose, all those guys, they've done a great job. You got to give mad respect to what they've done. And by the way, Knicks fans are for real. I was last weekend I was at the Champion League finals sitting with the owner of PSG and I put out on my Instagram like US sports fans got to step it up and I think I had like 500 Knicks fans trying to kill me for just accusing them of not being good enough fans cuz I was giving the the PSG and Inter Milan fans props for being such crazy soccer fans and I think the Knicks fans were ready to kill me. Those fans are serious man. You guys are great fans.
Mike Woodson a 'wild card' for Knicks head coach job
The New York Knicks are striking out with all their current NBA head coach targets right now, so they may have to turn to a former one. Ex-Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is considered to be a “wild card” for the job, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reported Wednesday during an appearance on the “Knicks Film School” podcast. Begley says that the Knicks will likely “at least have a conversation” with Woodson and notes that Woodson has good relationships with Knicks owner James Dolan, president Leon Rose, and executive William Wesley.
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A league source confirmed that Jay Wright and Leon Rose are very close, have a great relationship and speak regularly. Rose knows Wright is very happy in retirement. So leave that name off the list of candidates.
James Dolan spearheaded Tom Thibodeau's dismissal
What was clear was Thibodeau’s firing being spearheaded by Knicks owner James Dolan, sources told Yahoo Sports. Dolan and team president Leon Rose held exit meetings with key Knicks players and the complaints were clear. Dolan, whom sources said was never a huge Thibodeau fan through the years, asked the questions in the meeting while Rose took a secondary role.
Ian Begley: With regard to reports/suggestions of Jay Wright as a Knick coaching candidate, yes, team president Leon Rose & Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly. Because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, per league source. So Wright is not a candidate for the job, league source said. @SbondyNBA first on it.
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