New York Knicks: Five potential replacements for David Fizdale

1. Sam Cassell

For as long as Sam Cassell has been around the NBA, it’s amazing that he has yet to become a head coach. Could that change if the New York Knicks come calling?

Cassell has the playing experience on his resume. From 1993-09 he played for eight teams, including in the Houston Rockets’ title seasons of 1994 and 1995 and the Boston Celtics’ “Big Three” championship year of 2008. He found success at the bookends of his playing career and was a steady starter along the way at point guard.

Cassell jumped into coaching after his career ended, spending 2009-14 with the Washington Wizards. He worked with John Wall upon arrival and was part of a handful of playoff teams in the nation’s capital.

Once Doc Rivers became the Clippers head coach, Cassell followed him to Hollywood as one of his top assistants. Coaching the likes of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, Cassell continued to work with some of the game’s best. However, he was also part of the coaching staff that led to Los Angeles’ unlikely playoff appearance in 2019 sans superstars. Now, it’s coaching Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The experience is there with different players of varying calibers, and Cassell has been part of successful teams at each destination. His resume is long and should tempt the Knicks to at least offer an interview. Few assistants have his background and landing a head-coaching job, whether with New York or somewhere else, is inevitable.