NBA Rumors: Brian Shaw Said He Would Decline The New York Knicks Head Coaching Job
By Andrew Dill
Apr 16, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center. The Warriors won 116-112. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
With the New York Knicks scrambling to find a head coach for the 2014-15′ campaign after firing Mike Woodson, they have been reportedly interested in Denver Nuggets now second-year head coach Brian Shaw. After their top candidate Steve Kerr accepted the head coaching job for the Golden State Warriors, it left them in a difficult spot.
The Knicks recently inked former head coach Phil Jackson to run their basketball operations, signing a five-year, $12-million dollar deal. After Kerr turned down the Knicks, speculation started to swirl about Brian Shaw. Of course, Jackson and Shaw have ties going back to the Los Angeles Lakers as Shaw was an assistant under Jackson from 2005-11′. Shaw was recently asked if the Knicks made a move towards him, would he accept. Here was his response via Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post.
Shaw: “I’m not interested in doing anything than what I’m doing now.” #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) May 15, 2014
Shaw would be a fool if he left the Nuggets mainly due to the talent level between both teams. The New York Knicks are in a state of uncertainty right now and personally I don’t even think Phil Jackson can save them at this point. They are missing quality draft picks circa the Carmelo Anthony trade back in 2011 with the Knicks and Nuggets, and have no depth whatsoever. Meanwhile, Shaw handled himself and the team well as Denver battled a handful of injuries in his first year as head coach.
Denver expects to get back players Danilo Gallinari (ACL), JaVale McGee (leg), Nate Robinson (ACL), and J.J. Hickson (ACL) back in time for training camp this upcoming season. Denver also currently holds the 11th overall pick in the upcoming draft in June but it could change due to a little lottery luck. The chances of the team landing in the top three are very slim but it has happened before. Denver has recently met with players Tyler Ennis (Syracuse), Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State), and Shabazz Napier (UConn).