Meet me in OKC?
In a bizarre turn, the Knicks’ snail-pace negotiations with Steve Kerr has led desperate Golden State to make a final push for the TNT broadcaster.
The Knicks believe they are still prohibitive favorites to sign Kerr. However, the Warriors were planning to send their front-office types to Oklahoma City to try to convince Kerr to leave Phil Jackson at the altar, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Knicks don’t appear concerned and they could still reach a contract agreement with Kerr by Wednesday or Thursday, but it added another layer of intrigue to what should have been a slam dunk.
The Warriors’ sense of urgency occurred when their top choice, Stan Van Gundy started negotiating a five-year, $35 million deal with Detroit to not only be their coach but also have final say in personnel matters.
Kerr has decided emphatically he wants to coach the Knicks and learn under Jackson’s wing, ruining a mountain of errant speculation he prefers staying on the West Coast. But he is waiting on financial terms to be worked out in the ongoing contract negotiations. Kerr was in Oklahoma City broadcasting Tuesday night’s Game 5 of the Clippers-Thunder second-round series.
Kerr could still make it to Chicago and join Jackson for Thursday and Friday’s pre-draft combine since he’s not due back on TNT until Sunday in Oklahoma City if there’s a Game 7. The Chicago combine would be a place to interview assistants for his staff.
The Post reported the Knicks weren’t in a big rush to finalize the Kerr deal and that it could last beyond Wednesday. The Knicks’ leisurely pace could be due to Kerr’s plans of fulfilling his commitment to TNT and not working full-time for the Knicks until after the Western Conference Finals in early June.
A source close to Kerr said talks with the Knicks had been “quiet’’ on Tuesday, but they will have a better handle “soon.’’ It seems inconceivable owner James Dolan will be outbid by Golden State on Jackson’s first attempted coaching hire.
“Steve’s a really thoughtful guy, he’s weighing all his options right now,’’ Kerr’s agent Mike Tannenbaum said on “The Herd’’ on ESPN Radio Tuesday. “Obviously he has a very close relationship with Phil Jackson. thinks the world of him and we’ll see where the next couple of days go. He’s remarkable person, very talented, accomplished a lot. Any decision he makes will be a thoughtful decision.’’
The Post reported Tannenbaum, the Jets former general manager, was originally hoping to get in the neighborhood of Mike D’Antoni money — the four-year, $24 million pact he signed to join the Knicks from Phoenix in 2008. But the belief is the Knicks found the sum too steep for someone without any coaching experience.
Still, Kerr wants to work with Jackson, as Tannenbaum indicated.
Asked their relationship, Tannenbaum said, “Tremendous. It’s built on trust and mutual admiration and multiple championships. Anyone would be interested in coaching would have a great opportunity to have that as a resource. Steve is thoughtful, methodical, taking his time. Whatever decision he winds up making will be a thoughtful one. We’ll see how the next few days play out.’’
Tannenbaum is confident Kerr will become a star coach.
“Whatever Steve does, he’ll be successful,’’ Tannenbaum said. “He’s been preparing to be a coach for a number of years. When the day comes when he does coach, he’s done everything he could to put himself in position to be successful.’’