Woodson: I’d listen on Fiz associate job
Mike Woodson still is gunning for a second stint as the Knicks’ head coach, but acknowledged he would listen if David Fizdale were to offer him the job as associate coach, should he be hired to replace Jeff Hornacek.
An NBA source said the Knicks are “zeroing in’’ on a choice. Indications — as first reported by The Post on Sunday — are that Fizdale, Mike Budenholzer and David Blatt are the front-runners.
Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that Fizdale “has gained serious traction as a front-runner” for the Knicks’ job. The Post also reported that Mark Jackson’s candidacy has failed to gain traction.
Fizdale was Woodson’s assistant coach in Atlanta from 2004 to 2008 and they now share the same agent.
When contacted by The Post, Woodson said: “I love David. I gave him his first job on the bench — I know he worked one season before in Golden State. We’re very close. I’m sure he would call.’’
Fizdale may have his pick of the litter. According to a source, Fizdale was set to conduct his final interview with the Magic on Wednesday or Thursday. Fizdale already has interviewed with the Knicks, Suns, Hornets and Hawks. The Suns made the first hire Wednesday, choosing Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov.
An NBA source said Fizdale still considers the Knicks, Hornets, Magic and Hawks to be in the mix.
“There’s an army of fans in the league that just rave about [Fizdale],’’ an NBA executive said.
LeBron James, who played in Miami when Fizdale was a Heat assistant, is one of his fans. But the chance of James signing with the cap-challenged Knicks this summer are as likely as owner James Dolan beating out Bruce Springsteen for a Grammy.
Woodson still is Doc Rivers’ top assistant with the Clippers, who are in rebuilding mode. Rivers still hasn’t said he is returning to Los Angeles.
Because interim Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff officially was hired by the team, Fizdale may not have all his old Memphis assistants to bring along to his next post.
Those assistants are Keith Smart, Bob Bender, Nick Van Exel, Greg Buckner and Adam Mazarei. Bickerstaff said any of that group will be allowed to move on if it betters their careers. Heat assistant Juwan Howard, who interviewed with the Knicks, also could be asked to join Fizdale’s staff.
Woodson stands as the Knicks’ most successful head coach since Jeff Van Gundy left, posting a record of 109-79. His .580 winning percentage ranks third in Knicks history behind Van Gundy and Pat Riley.
Still, Woodson is disappointed when his offense is labeled too isolation-heavy for the current NBA. Even though he is known more as a defense-minded coach, Woodson pointed out his 2012-13 Knicks, which logged a 54-28 record, were second in the league in 3-point attempts and fifth in 3-point percentage while committing the NBA’s fewest turnovers.
Woodson also noted while with the Knicks he used a lot of two point-guard fronts — which is in vogue — with Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni.
“I had one of the great isolation players in the game in [Carmelo Anthony] so I’m going to try to get my best player some shots,’’ Woodson said of his isolationist rep. “But do the homework and look at the numbers on 3-pointers attempted and made.”
Woodson said he had “a great meeting’’ with president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry.
“Everyone’s just waiting,’’ Woodson said.
A longtime NBA executive said this is the most patient league-wide search anyone can remember. And the Bucks, who undoubtedly will fire Joe Prunty as they move into a new arena, haven’t made that official despite Budenholzer’s interest in any vacancy there.
“There’s no rush because there’s a lengthy list of candidates, more than normal, and teams wanted to get to all of them,’’ the executive said.
Fizdale’s abrupt firing by the Grizzlies in November is not being held against him. Fizdale amassed a 43-39 record as a rookie coach in 2016-17, losing a first-round playoff series to the Spurs in six games.
After opening this season with a 7-4 record, he lost starting point guard Mike Conley Jr. to injury, lost eight consecutive games, then lost his job after a raging feud with star center Marc Gasol.