Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton will be a hot commodity this offseason and is near the top of Knicks president Phil Jackson’s wish list as the team’s next coach.
One drawback, however, is needing to wait until June before a club can make its pitch, with the Warriors expected to romp to The Finals again. The other drawback is Jackson will have plenty of company — with the Lakers, Suns, Rockets and Kings also likely to show interest, according to sources.
That’s what happens when you lead a team to a 39-4 record as interim coach, as Walton did, subbing sensationally for Steve Kerr during his rehab from back surgery. One person close to Walton told The Post he could stay with the Warriors one more season unless it’s a plum job, though the person added, “Money does talk.’’
Before Walton, 35, is hailed as the next Red Auerbach, it’s important to note his next gig won’t have such a glossy roster.
“He was obviously dealt aces, but he played them right,’’ one NBA executive told The Post. “The next job he gets will be a challenge compared to that roster in Oakland.
“First-time head coaches usually don’t take over ready-made teams. What’s going to be available are underachieving or unrealistic-expectation teams, including the Knicks.’’
Walton already has passed on one chance to move to New York — sort of. The Knicks never made an official offer to Walton to become an assistant coach to Derek Fisher because they still were negotiating with Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons. So when Kerr came calling, Walton asked Jackson what he should do. Jackson told him to stay out West.
“I think Phil knows how much I know the triangle and love the triangle,’’ Walton told The Post last February. “I thought it would’ve been a good fit. I had stayed in touch with Phil [since he left Los Angeles]. He’s been a mentor and teacher to me in basketball and in life even before getting into coaching. We had a few conversations about coming to New York, joining Derek’s staff. I had a few phone calls with Fish. While I was doing that, I was in contact with Steve.’’
Indeed, Fisher is fond of Walton, a former Lakers teammate and the son of Bill Walton. Before Fisher knew he was getting the ax, the former Knicks coach praised Walton when his club played the Warriors less than two weeks ago.
“Luke has an overall understanding of the game — he’s comfortable in his own skin,’’ Fisher said. “He’s a guy really not trying to impress anybody. That level of comfort in himself and confidence he has in himself helped him to step right in and do a great job.”
Who knew that Fisher remark would now serve as a recommendation for Jackson’s next move.
Walton’s official head-coaching record stands at 0-0. All those wins to start the season go to Kerr, who returned 2½ weeks ago. Sources say Kerr’s back is not expected to create further issues and he intends to be around for the long haul, leaving Walton stuck as an assistant.
“He came in as a substitute teacher and performed as a professor emeritus,’’ one NBA scout said. “He got guys to buy in and connected with the guys. People say he didn’t have any pressure. He had so much pressure to keep the ball rolling. As an assistant, your relationship is different, but he made the transition and would scream at players when he had to.’’
While the Garden is attractive, people around the league wonder if the West Coast product wants to go East. He’s a San Diego native who lived in Manhattan Beach, Calif., as a Laker and went to college at Arizona. Kerr, also a San Diego guy, chose to stick in California.
“That could be an issue,’’ one league source said.
That differs from ex-Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, whose associates say he is very interested. However, Jackson wasn’t thrilled with the stories he’s heard of Thibodeau’s war with Bulls management.
Jackson indicated Tuesday on Twitter he’s not married to the triangle — just system basketball. Walton and Kerr run a hybrid offense combining a slice of the triangle but flooded with the Spurs flex system and Mike D’Antoni’s Phoenix speedball.
Walton’s ascension has been quick, going from an assistant for the University of Memphis in 2011 to player development coach for the Lakers’ D-League team before joining Kerr in 2014-15. Jackson’s triangle-oriented tweet also could be aimed at Israeli legend David Blatt, fired recently by the Cavaliers after making The Finals and a close friend of Knicks general manager Steve Mills.
The only person disappointed in Walton’s performance was Kerr. The Warriors head coach deadpanned upon his return: “I was thinking more along the lines of 40-3, but I’ll take 39-4.”