NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Sign Luke Walton To Keep Carmelo Anthony; Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Williams Want Derek Fisher Back

By Mitch de Leon
Carmelo Anthony
The New York Knicks ponder hiring Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton to help Carmelo Anthony lift the team to the NBA playoffs. ESPN FIRST TAKE/YouTube

The New York Knicks have been looking into ways to rebuild their team since Carmelo Anthony signed to become the franchise face. However, almost a decade has passed since the Derrick Williams squad landed a spot in the NBA playoffs. Moreover, the New York Knicks have been seen as an easy target among the basketball teams in the league - the type considered as unchallenging opponents by most NBA squads. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that a superstar like Anthony would want out.

Anthony, who has been quite vocal about his desire to bring the New York Knicks to the NBA finals, recently shared his goal of recruiting big stars on the roster. The list of basketball stars targetted by Anthony includes LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. To reportedly complete the team's heavyweight lineup, the New York Knicks are said to be contemplating signing Luke Walton.

In the absence of the Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr earlier this NBA season, the basketball community saw the leadership and potential of Walton. As a former Los Angeles Lakers star, the then interim head coach became one of the most widely admired heads of the team. His skills and capability to help Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of the Golden State Warriors win games despite Kerr's absence catapulted his value in the NBA to the top.

Can Walton do the same for the New York Knicks?

According to Kurt Rambis, Walton might not be a good option for the New York Knicks. He shared that the efforts of Walton with the Golden State Warriors were not exactly reflections of his skills. Rambis noted that the system put in place by Kerr played a major role in the success of the Curry team at the time.

"He just continued to perpetuate what was going on," pointed out Rambis of Walton's coaching. He added, "It's not like he changed anything. He continued to allow the team to play the way they're playing and been successful with. It's difficult to coach any team, even a good team. You got to keep them motivated and challenged. Every team that plays Golden State, you're going to see their best. It's tough as defending champions to meet that challenge night in and night out. When you think of unselfish play and teamwork, they epitomize it."

Meanwhile, some fans feel that it might be better to bring back Derek Fisher. However, it seems that Phil Jackson wants Rambis to continue his reign in the New York Knicks. Citing their years of working together, the NBA exec noted that the current interim head coach of the Anthony team is capable of boosting the group's performance. Hence, the clamor for Fisher's return will not turn out any comeback for Matt Barnes' nemesis.

"Kurt and I have a relationship that goes back to 2001. He knows the ins and outs, what pleases me and probably [what] I want to have changed," shared Jackson of Rambis.

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