The New York Knicks made a major move this week by firing head coach Derek Fisher in the middle of his second season with the team. Phil Jackson announced the news about the move and said that assistant Kurt Rambis will take over for the duration of the season.
Fisher was fired in the middle of a losing streak for the Knicks and despite improvement from last season, Jackson felt it was time to make a move. The Knicks were 23-31 when Fisher was fired and while that was a stark change from the 17-65 record the team put up last season, Jackson felt it was not enough for Fisher to stay in New York.
The team now will have to find a new head coach to take over for Fisher and Jackson is hoping that whoever comes in can bring the team back to the playoffs. Here are 5 things to know following the move:
Fisher was fired in the middle of a losing streak
The Knicks have improved quite a bit from last season, but the team has been slumping lately and that was a factor in the decision to fire Fisher. The Knicks had lost five in a row and nine of the last 10 games when Fisher was fired on Monday. ESPN reports that the losing streak was part of the reason for the firing and also because the "team was already convinced Fisher was not transitioning from the role of player to coach effectively."
Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis said they were suspired at the move
Carmelo Anthony said that he was not expecting the move by the Knicks, saying to the Wall Street Journal that the firing caught him off guard. "I don't know if it was a quick decision, or it was lingering. Not even trying to figure that part out," Anthony said. "But everybody found out, the players, around the same time yesterday morning."
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis had the same reaction, telling ESPN: "I saw Coach right before he was leaving [and] I said goodbye to him," Porzingis said. "It was a shock for me at that moment when he said he wasn't going to be my coach anymore. He said some good words to me, and I am very thankful for what he did for me and I told him that."
Luke Walton and Brian Shaw could be candidates for the job
Jackson brought in Fisher after the point guard won multiple championships under his tutelage in Los Angeles and Jackson could go the same route again for a new hire. ESPN sources report that Brian Shaw and Luke Walton, who each previously played for Jackson, are considered candidates for the Knicks job. Tom Thibodeau has also come up as a potential option.
Phil Jackson may still pull off some trades at the deadline
The firing of Fisher may have some start to think that the Knicks are going to give up on this season, but based on Jackson's quotes, that looks premature. Jackson said at his press conference that the team was looking for a meaningful trade to help the roster as the deadline approaches.
"We're looking to improve this ballclub, there's no doubt," Jackson said, according to ESPN. "We know that we have some good guys. The chemistry is pretty good. The talent can still be better. It always can, so we're looking."
The incident with Matt Barnes may have had an impact
Fisher had an altercation with Matt Barnes last year and that stemmed from Fisher allegedly having a relationship with the ex-wife of Barnes. The situation came up towards the beginning of the season and Barnes was suspended two games for the incident. Phil Jackson said in his press conference that while the situation was "embarrassing," it had "nothing to do with what happened here today." Some have speculated that the situation did factor into Jackson's decision, although he likely would not admit that publically.