Knicks News: ‘Strong desire’ to keep Mike Miller on staff, if not head coach

Knicks interim coach Mike Miller might find a way to stay in New York.

At this point, it seems all but a done deal that the New York Knicks will hire a new head coach in the coming weeks, with Tom Thibodeau the leading candidate per multiple reports. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean interim coach Mike Miller will be kicked out on the street.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, there are people within the Knicks organization who have a strong desire to keep Mike Miller on the coaching staff, even if he doesn’t retain his head coach status.

Miller took over for David Fizdale in December. Fizdale was in the second season of a five-year, $22 million contract when he was relieved of his duties after a dreadful 4-18 start to the 2019-20 season

The Knicks tied a franchise record with 65 losses during Fizdale’s first season on the job, but most people gave him a pass as he led an inexperienced team destined for the lottery that traded away veteran players to create cap space for future free agents whom never arrived.

Miller went 17-27 after taking over as head coach. Many believed the Knicks roster was too “flawed” to compete, no matter who was leading the huddle.

The former G-League Coach of the Year proved the right leader can muster a few extra wins out of an awkward team. The Knicks signed several veterans on essentially one-year deals (with non-guarantees and options) to mix with their young core this season; but the positional alignment never made sense, as the same players New York was trying to develop saw their minutes absorbed by guys on the way out the door.

New York fired president Steve Mills in February, bringing in super-agent Leon Rose to take the reins. While Rose has already added new faces to the front office, he has shown a willingness to give incumbents a chance, exercising general manager Scott Perry’s option for one more season, as an example.

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Perhaps Miller finds a way to keep a role under a new Knicks coach. He deserves it.