Steve Kerr, the overwhelming favorite to be the next Knicks coach, is not on the Lakers’ candidate list, according to an NBA source.
The Lakers believe Kerr is too far along in the process of joining Phil Jackson’s Knicks. The Lakers president is Jeanie Buss, Jackson’s fiancee.
The Wall Street Journal reported Jackson told Carmelo Anthony in their Tribeca dinner meeting Tuesday he expects to hire Kerr.
The Lakers have plenty of experienced candidates they plan to interview in the wake of Wednesday night’s resignation of Mike D’Antoni.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers were looking to speak with George Karl, Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and college coaches Kevin Ollie and John Calipari — who already has taken his name out of the race. There’s also a report the Lakers would seek permission to speak with Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau.
“It’s a ball of confusion there,’’ another NBA source said. “I’ve heard 15 names.”
Lute Olson, a Kerr confidant, told The Post the perception Kerr heavily prefers a West-Coast destination because he resides in San Diego is inaccurate.
Olson said Jackson’s presence supersedes location now that his children are in college. Olson said Kerr’s wife, Margot, has given him approval to move East without her.
Nevertheless, one source said Kerr has connections with Golden State.
Negotiations between Kerr and the Knicks figure to heat up next week after the NBA’s first round of the playoffs is over. Kerr was in Memphis on Thursday for TNT’s telecast of Thunder-Grizzlies.
Olson also said Kerr “more than likely’’ will accept the post.