It’s Steve Kerr’s job if he wants it.
Kerr is the Knicks’ preferred choice for the vacant head-coaching position, according to an NBA source, but he is doing his “research on the organization,’’ making sure there are no red flags with the job that appears to be a good fit with his former coach, Phil Jackson, running the show as team president.
Kerr’s broadcasting commitment to TNT has slowed matters with his busy schedule working the first round, the league source said. Kerr and his longtime partner Marv Albert worked the Wizards-Bulls Game 5 in Chicago on Tuesday after the duo broadcast the Raptors-Nets Game 4 in Brooklyn Sunday.
With the first round completed by Sunday, next week will free up more time for Kerr to finalize things with the Knicks after meeting and talking with Jackson over the weekend.
Kerr still is citing opinions regarding the organization’s reputation as a tough place to coach, but the job description has changed now that owner James Dolan has ceded basketball power to Jackson. That transfer is why Kerr is expected to take the job.
The Post reported two weeks ago Kerr had “absolutely expected’’ to be offered the position and would accept.
Most NBA executives believe it would be a big upset if Kerr turned down the job, especially because of his desire to install the triangle offense that Jackson desires. Kerr won three titles with Jackson in Chicago running the triangle.
When he spoke Sunday at Barclays Center, Kerr indicated the triangle would be his cup of tea as a head coach.
“I know Phil last week said we shared the same space, which is well-said,’’ Kerr told reporters. “We share the same philosophies. I learned a lot of my basketball from [Phil] and Tex Winter [one of the triangle offense’s inventors], so I think it’s safe to say we have a lot of the same ideas. As far as getting into the details of the triangle, I’m not going to expand on it. But obviously there’s a strong connection between us and our beliefs.’’
Kerr is expected to want to fill out his coaching staff with either past teammates or Jackson disciples. Jackson also has spoken with former Bulls center Bill Cartwright about a position on the staff. Former Jackson assistant Jim Cleamons and former Kerr teammate Ron Harper also are on the radar as potential staff members.
“Let’s be honest,’’ Kerr said Sunday. “If Phil wasn’t there, nobody from the Knicks would have contacted me.’’