Triangle guru Kurt Rambis has become the first of rookie Derek Fisher’s assistant coaches, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Rambis has accepted the Knicks offer to become Fisher’s top assistant — a vital role as he and Phil Jackson groom the club’s new head coach.
Rambis will make roughly $1.2 million per year across four guaranteed years. Tyronn Lue recently signed with Cleveland for $1.6M per, a record for an assistant.
Rambis had been in the mix for the Lakers’ head-coaching job, but that appears to be going to lead candidate Byron Scott.
Rambis served two stints on Jackson’s Lakers staff, coaching Fisher. Rambis, 56, had a rough stint in his lone full-time gig as head coach, going 32-132 with the Timberwolves across two seasons. He was also an interim head coach with the Lakers in 1999.
Though the Knicks can’t budge until they get a commitment from Carmelo Anthony or Pau Gasol, the Knicks have inquired about New Orleans free-agent forward Jason Smith.