Billy Donovan To Knicks Considered More Plausible Than Other Employed Coaches

The New York Knicks have requested permission to speak to at least five currently employed head coaches in Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, Billy Donovan and Quin Snyder and were denied by all five incumbent teams. Kidd and Donovan are the two candidates that still could emerge for the Knicks as they search for a replacement for Tom Thibodeau.

“I will say the Billy Donovan one is more plausible,” said Brian Windhorst on Thursday’s Hoop Collective Podcast.

“Until they have a coach, I think there’s two that are not off the board,” said Tim Bontemps. “One is Jason Kidd, one is Billy Donovan.”

“Until they have a coach, or until Jason Kidd maybe gets an extension,” added Tim MacMahon.

“Because both of those guys are in position to get extensions with their teams—so I would say until there’s another shoe to drop in either of those situations,” said Bontemps.

Both Donovan and Kidd have left head coaching jobs in the past to directly join another team as head coach. As the Oklahoma City Thunder were set to embark on a rebuild in 2020, he exited to become head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Kidd also finagled his way from the Brooklyn Nets to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014.

“I still wouldn’t totally dismiss it but it’s unlikely,” said MacMahon on the possibility of Kidd leaving the Mavericks for the Knicks.

“The other three—Quin Snyder, Ime Udoka, Chris Finch are not happening,” said Bontemps.