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New York Knicks: Outside the Box Options for Head Coach

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart reacts to a play against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart reacts to a play against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Shaka Smart

One of the most promising names on the coaching front is former VCU Rams and current Texas Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart. Smart rose to prominence by leading VCU to the Final Four in 2011, maintained praise for his brilliant defensive schematics, and is now attempting to lead the resurgence of Texas basketball.

It’s hard to imagine Smart leaving the Longhorns after just one season, but if any job were attractive enough, the Knicks would be up there.

New York has the type of guards who Smart knows how to utilize in Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant. Both would enable him to run his patented Havoc Defense, picking players up from the inbound pass and smothering them on both ends of the mid-court line.

The fact that he’d have the best defensive interior in the NBA at his disposal would be attractive, as well.

Smart is questionable on the offensive end, and it’s entirely fair to question whether or not his approach will translate from the college scene to the NBA. There’s simply no evading the fact that he’s a young and promising head coach who is held in high regard at all levels.

Smart could be the next Brad Stevens, or he could fail. Either way, he’s worth considering.

Next: The Personnel Developer

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