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Knicks’ reported front office frustrations could lead to much-needed change

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks calls out from the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 109-103. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks calls out from the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 109-103. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Before the New York Knicks embarked on their five-game road trip a couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Tom Thibodeau’s job wasn’t safe, but the Knicks managed to squeak by with a 3-2 record. At long last, the head coach has started to switch up lineups and he even removed Evan Fournier from the rotation, which was the correct decision to make.

With New York’s 109-103 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, the team has dropped five of their last seven games. The Knicks are 4-6 in games played at Madison Square Garden and have lost six of their last seven games at home.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, New York’s 10-12 start has prompted “internal scrutiny” that involves more than Thibodeau’s shortcomings as head coach.

Will the front office make necessary changes amid Knicks’ 10-12 start?

Following the Knicks’ loss to the Bucks, Begley wrote that although the mood amongst players is “optimistic,” the front office’s mood is the opposite of that.

"Internally at MSG, there is heightened scrutiny on the club’s game-by-game performance. That scrutiny was raised after the loss to Oklahoma City and it’s not solely focused on Thibodeau. The entire organization is under the microscope amid a 10-12 start."

It’s true that firing Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t solve all of New York’s issues, but it’s evident that the team isn’t going to grow under his direction. It’s time to give Johnnie Bryant a chance to lead the Knicks as their interim head coach, which could lead to him being named the team’s new head coach, similar to Jacque Vaughn.

But it doesn’t necessarily matter whether Thibodeau or Bryant is the head coach because as long as New York is without a star, the team is going to remain in its mediocre state. Leon Rose has been stockpiling first-round picks to go after a star and with the Knicks not trading for Donovan Mitchell over the summer, the pressure is on.

The trade deadline is a little over two months away and there’s a lot that can happen between now and then. What will the front office decide to do?

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