Scott Skiles verbally has accepted an offer from the Bucks, erasing him as a Knicks coaching candidate, according to a league source.
Skiles’ imminent hiring strengthens front-runner Mark Jackson’s candidacy, which received another boost over the weekend with Jeff Van Gundy’s endorsement.
The Skiles camp was disappointed Donnie Walsh did not contact them this weekend. Skiles played for Walsh in Indiana.
“They’re not going to get a chance to speak to him now,” a source close to Skiles said. “The Knicks head coach is not going to be Scott.”
The Skiles camp denies it reached out to Walsh. That Walsh didn’t bother to call Skiles is an indication how strongly the Knicks president feels about Jackson, who could be interviewed as soon as Wednesday, with Walsh indicating it’s his job to lose.
Skiles’ bid may have been damaged because two prominent Knicks starters, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford, despised him with the Bulls. Skiles got them traded.
Curry indicated his distaste for Skiles when asked by The Post his reaction if Skiles was hired. “(I’m) speechless,” Curry said after a long pause. “We’ll see what happens.”
A friend of Skiles scoffed at any connection. “If Curry and Crawford despised him, then the Knicks should’ve hired Scott immediately,” Skiles’ friend said.
When Jackson’s interviewed, the key for him will be to explain how he would fill out his coaching staff, considered vital by Walsh because of Jackson’s inexperience. Hiring a veteran top assistant is a must. If Jackson gets the job, he may consider former Knicks assistant Brendan Malone and/or Patrick Ewing.
Though Van Gundy dreams of one day returning to coaching, he acknowledged Saturday Jackson is best for the job now, calling it “a one-horse race.” Van Gundy might have inside knowledge, considering he worked on some playoff telecasts in San Antonio this weekend.
Walsh said he would put Van Gundy on the list. But a source said when a reporter asked if Van Gundy would be interviewed, Walsh made a gesture with a fake pen and pretended to write a name as he said, “Well, you just brought his name up. I’ll put him on the list. I’m compiling that list right now.”
“Man, he must be desperate,” Van Gundy said Saturday.
Walsh said he would meet today with the Knicks assistant coaching staff, including candidate Herb Williams. But it’s unclear if today’s talk will be considered a job interview. Mark Aguirre, George Glymph, Brendan Suhr and Dave Hanners could stick around through the draft. Walsh said the next coach will have a say in hiring his staff.