Perry (l) and Mills are looking to hire a coach who will be able to connect to today's playersNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Knicks after firing coach Jeff Hornacek are "taking a patient approach" to rebuilding, rather than "looking for 'quick fixes' that have hampered" the organization in recent years, according to Chris Iseman of the Bergen RECORD. That starts with "hiring a new head coach" to replace Hornacek, who was hired by former team President Phil Jackson and fired after just two seasons. When it comes to hiring a new coach, accountability and communication "will be among the factors" Knicks President Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry are "hoping to improve." They also want to "hire someone who can connect with 'today's players.'" And they "want to bring in a coach who will embrace all parts of the organization." Mills "maintained their plan has gotten approval" from Knicks Owner James Dolan (Bergen RECORD, 4/13). In N.Y., George Willis writes this is the "moment Mills has been groomed for -- the chance to step out of the shadows" of Jackson and Dolan, and "prove he can be more than just a loyal lieutenant." His hiring of Perry as the GM in July "seems to be a good fit, absent of the power struggles that have hurt the Knicks in the past" (N.Y. POST, 4/13). Also in N.Y., Stefan Bondy writes the "unwritten rule is that a front office is allowed one coaching change before the responsibility turns heavy." Two is the "max." Mills and Perry "have their shot and are already making phone calls" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/13). In New Jersey, Steve Popper writes, "While we wonder just how the next coach will end up different it’s worth remembering what is the same." Dolan is "still running the show" (Bergen RECORD, 4/13).
IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes the Magic, who fired head coach Frank Vogel on Thursday, are "no closer to being a playoff team today than they were on the day Dwight Howard left." In fact, they are in "worse shape -- much worse shape -- now than they were six years ago." Give Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman "credit, he’s not sugarcoating where the Magic are as a franchise." He admitted that a new coach "won’t make much [of] a difference until the roster is significantly upgraded." It is "pretty clear Weltman knows he took over a team" that has been "sucked into the abyss" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/13).
