Jeff Hornacek’s job with the New York Knicks is safe through at least the rest of the season.
Despite the team’s recent downturn, the organization has made it clear they won’t be making a change at head coach this year, per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman:
Kristaps Porzingis is gone for the season, but Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek won’t be going anywhere.
There were previous indications from team brass Hornacek wouldn’t be evaluated until after this season despite the clamor from the fan base that has watched the Knicks slide to a season-worst 23-32 record. Now Knicks general manager Scott Perry confirmed as much Wednesday.
“No, we’re not looking to make any changes,’’ Perry said in his first remarks to the media since early December. “We’re evaluating the entire season. Jeff and his group are working really hard with this basketball team and doing the very best they can and obviously this is an adversity for them to deal with KP being out, but I’m confident that they’ll be able to do a good job of keeping this team playing hard and playing together. That’s what we’ll be looking at moving forward.’’
Hornacek, as Berman notes, has just one year left on his contract, so the Knicks wouldn’t have to eat much if they went in a different direction. But there’s no point in canning him now (if at all).
Kristaps Porzingis is out for the season with a torn ACL. Tim Hardaway Jr. is battling another leg injury. The team traded Willy Hernangomez to the Charlotte Hornets and could still move on from Courtney Lee and Kyle O’Quinn.
Now, more so than ever, they aren’t playing for anything this season. Changing head coaches before the offseason would be utterly pointless under the circumstances. Unless he refuses to give ample minutes to youngsters like Frank Ntilikina, Doug McDermott and Trey Burke from here on out, his job security shouldn’t be an issue.
