The stars are starting to align for an eventual reunion of Phil Jackson and Jim Cleamons in New York.
Cleamons, the former Knicks starting point guard, and Jackson were teammates in New York in the late 1970’s. From there, Cleamons became Jackson’s right-hand man on the bench for nine of the Zen Master’s 11 coaching titles — four with the Bulls and all five with the Lakers.
Cleamons, now a Bucks assistant coach, would seem a perfect fit as top assistant — a veteran and master of the triangle who could help potential new head coach Steve Kerr. Kerr has emerged as Jackson’s leading head-coaching candidate.
According to an NBA source, Cleamons is interested in rejoining Jackson’s Knicks in any capacity. Already, former Bulls personnel man, Clarence Gaines Jr. is on board with the Knicks in an unnamed front-office job and was in Portsmouth, Va. with team brass this week for the second day of an important pre-draft camp.
Gaines is a family friend of Cleamons — both with places in L.A. In fact, Gaines introduced Cleamons to his wife when all three worked together for the Bulls.
The NBA source said Cleamons also would have interest in anything Jackson has to offer, including a personnel gig.
The NBA source also said Cleamons is a big fan of his former player, Kerr, and his ability to be a head coach because of his “quick learning curve.’’
There probably isn’t another assistant coach as well-versed in the triangle offense as Cleamons.
Cleamons could be on shaky ground with the Bucks. Things in Milwaukee for Larry Drew’s coaching staff, is uncertain after Herb Kohl sold the club to two billionaire investors last week.
“Anytime there’s new ownership, there’s a chance they can bring their own group in,” Drew said earlier this week. “That’s always a possibility. So we don’t know what the situation is.’’
It’s clear Jackson wants to surround himself with familiar faces he trusts, meaning the statuses of assistant general manager Allan Houston and personnel directors Mark Warkentien are unclear.
As The Post reported earlier this week, Gaines is Jackson’s “eyes and ears’’ as he joined the Knicks’ staff last week.
“He’s a really good personnel guy, sees guys others have given up on,’’ one league general manager said.
Meanwhile, Woodson still has the title of head coach and he and Jackson were trying to meet early this week to discuss his future.