Brian Shaw currently is doing commentary for NBA TV, but his eye isn’t too far from the Knicks situation. According to a friend, Shaw will be “intrigued’’ if the Knicks’ head-coaching job officially opens up after the season.
Knicks president Phil Jackson talks to a lot of his former players and has done so with Shaw, a former Lakers guard and assistant coach, in recent months. The friend said Shaw always will wonder what could have been if the Nuggets had fired him after the 2013-14 season.
Jackson couldn’t pursue Shaw for the Knicks job then because he was under contract to the Nuggets and they indicated they would want compensation. Shaw, who didn’t run the triangle offense in Denver, got fired after a 20-39 start to the 2014-15 season for reportedly losing control of the locker room.
“He had really bad timing from that standpoint,’’ the friend said. “He’s an NBA coach. that’s what he is. And he’s already been through one rodeo in Denver. Sometimes it takes a second job for a coach to be great.’’
Shaw played for Jackson with the Lakers from 1999 to 2003 and was an assistant under him from 2005 to 2011. The Post reported Shaw would have been Jackson’s pick after Steve Kerr reneged if he wasn’t under contract with Denver.
In an interview with MSG, Jackson downplayed the chances of the Knicks making a deal before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
“Very slim opportunity for us to trade,” Jackson said. “We’re looking for something. We’ll be open to it.”
Interim coach Kurt Rambis repeated his mantra the playoffs are vital — seemingly a purposeful about-face from Derek Fisher’s rhetoric.
“It’s a tremendous challenge and the players know that and I’ve let them know we have to find a way to get in the playoffs,’’ Rambis said before the Knicks fell 111-108 to the Wizards in his debut as the team’s interim coach. “It’s so valuable for the growth of the team to be in that sort of intense environment. They’ve got to experience that. The quicker we can get them in there the longer we get them in there and keep them there, the better off we’ll be as an organization.’’
The Knicks elected not to give Greek rookie Thanasis Antetokounmpo a second 10-day contract. He returned to the Westchester Knicks of the D-League as the Knicks keep open a roster spot. The Knicks will have an open spot in case something develops at the Feb. 18 trade deadline and need to do a 2-for-1 deal.