Sources: Knicks working on Rambis contract
The New York Knicks are in negotiations with Kurt Rambis on a new contract for a position on Jeff Hornacek’s coaching staff, league sources told ESPN.
Rambis was given serious consideration for the Knicks head coaching vacancy but the club ultimately decided to hire Hornacek, leaving Rambis’ future in the club in limbo.
Hornacek has signed off on adding Rambis to his staff, sources say, and while Rambis still had one year remaining on his current contract, the sides decided to negotiate a new deal.
Sources say that the decision to hire Rambis was made ultimately by Hornacek. “Nothing is being forced down Jeff’s neck,” one source with knowledge of the dynamic said, in reference to the idea that team president Phil Jackson would force Hornacek to hire Rambis. Sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Hornacek had initially discussed the job with Rambis a few weeks ago but Rambis did not immediately accept, telling Hornacek that he should take time to really think through his staff and what he needed before making this decision.
Hornacek and Rambis have a long-standing friendship dating back to their playing days together with the Phoenix Suns in the late 80s and early 90s. Rambis offered Hornacek a job on his staff when he was head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves between 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, a source told Shelburne. Hornacek also discussed bringing Rambis onto his staff in Phoenix when he coached there from 2013-14 to 2015-16.
Jackson publicly endorsed the idea of bringing Rambis back on staff in an interview with SNY on Monday.
The team president said that Rambis “fits in a number of ways” as a potential addition to Hornacek’s staff. He added that Rambis, who served as an associate head coach under ex head coach Derek Fisher, “has a great idea of what we’re trying to get accomplished and I think he can help Jeff feel his way through this club and find the best way to play.” The New York Post reported on Tuesday that “talks” between Hornacek and Rambis are “going well.”
Hornacek is also expected to add ex Phoenix Suns assistant Jerry Sichting to his staff. The coach additionally will have to make decisions on assistants Brian Keefe, Josh Longstaff, Rasheed Hazzard and Jim Cleamons.
