As the Knicks stare down their final four games of the season, the front office is going to have to make a decision on whether or not they want to retain Jeff Hornacek as head coach. Considering Hornacek has just one year left on his contract and he was Phil Jackson’s hire, it would not surprise anyone if Steve Mills and Scott Perry decide to move on shortly after the season is over on April 11.
The season was not Hornacek’s fault, but with the Knicks trying to consolidate cap space for the summer of 2019, it makes sense to hire a new head coach now to try to establish an identity for the franchise as quickly as possible. Phil Jackson was the team’s identity for the past handful of years. Now that mantle will be passed to the next head coach, who will look to instill the philosophy and play style that will carry the Knicks into the prime of Kristaps Porzingis’ career.
The perfect man for that job is Jay Wright, who should be at the top of New York's list.
Before delving into why Wright is such a good fit for the Knicks (and any other NBA team looking for a head coach), it’s important to note that his pursuit may be nothing more than a pipe dream. Wright has never given an indication that he wants to leave Villanova for the NBA. For a team that has had as little success as the Knicks have over the last 15 years, they might be even less likely to entice Wright to leave. But that doesn’t mean the Knicks shouldn’t try.
There is always some level of risk elevating a college coach to the pro level, but that risk should be limited for Wright since his teams play an NBA-style offense. Wright’s teams have always prioritized the three-point shot, and that was never more the case than this year. He spreads the floor with shooters, playing either four or five of his players on the perimeter to make room for penetration, screen and rolls, and movement off the ball. His offense is similar to the ones the better teams (Golden State and Houston) run at the NBA level.
His teams have also traditionally been strong defensively, especially on the perimeter. In the tournament, he switched screens and picks on and off the ball effectively because he plays enough guys that are versatile defensively to guard different players at different positions. If you have the right type of defenders, this is the easiest way to defend in the NBA. Whatever the scheme, his teams consistently commit on that side of the ball.
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It's also important to note that Wright isn’t winning his national championships with a bunch of five-star recruits that are leaving school after one year. Mikal Bridges is a red shirt junior. Jalen Brunson is a junior and only one of two five-star recruits on the current roster (along with Omari Spellman). His 2016 National Championship team had its fair share of upper classmen as well. He wins without the recruiting panache of Duke, North Carolina, Kansas or Kentucky. Despite not having that advantage, he still builds teams that are consistently some of the best in the country because he knows how to gather the right type of players to play his system.
There is little reason to think he would not be able to transfer his college success to the NBA level. As for the Knicks specifically, he is familiar with what it is like coaching in the New York area from his time at Hofstra. Villanova is located in Philadelphia, another city with a notoriously tough fan base. He handles the media extremely well, and he certainly has the wardrobe ready for primetime.
Wright would also be someone that could be a draw for some of the top free agents available next summer. New York is going to struggle next year with Porzingis still recovering from an ACL injury, but Wright could at least instill a style of play and culture that could make the Knicks more of a destination for top players.
Why would he choose the Knicks? It wouldn’t require him to completely relocate to a different part of the country. The Knicks are never shy about writing checks, and would certainly pay as much or more than any other NBA team (or Villanova) that might come knocking. There is also the prestige of coaching a franchise like the Knicks, something Wright understands. He would have Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina and another lottery pick (maybe Mikal Bridges?) on the roster waiting for him. He would be able to influence how the Knicks use their cap space next summer. The Knicks roster is going to turn over a lot in the next few years, and he could be the architect building it in his image with the front office.
Unfortunately, the reasons for Wright to not choose the Knicks might be more influential than those supporting such a move. Madison Square Garden is historically dysfunctional, though the current front office seemed to be operating fairly normal this past season. The Knicks haven’t won in a long time, and they are still a couple years away from even thinking about competing in a serious way. There would likely be more talented franchises closer to winning that would approach Wright, and might be more attractive.
Jay Wright as the next head coach of the Knicks is probably nothing more than a dream, but it is one the Knicks should most certainly pursue (even if it will probably end in failure). He would give the Knicks an identity that can be successful long term in the NBA, and he would be their best coach since Mike D’Antoni or perhaps ever Jeff Van Gundy. Knicks, give it a shot.