New York Knicks Did Backchannel Exploration To Determine If There Was Pathway To Pursue Boston Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla
The New York Knicks likely did some backchannel exploration to determine if there was any pathway to pursue Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The Knicks needed a new coach after firing Tom Thibodeau.
“Yet it has also been whispered that the Knicks likely did some backchannel exploration to determine if there was any pathway to pursue Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. There obviously was not … and then the Celtics extended Mazzulla’s contract in August,” Stein wrote.
The Knicks wound up hiring Mike Brown, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings last season.
The Celtics lost to the Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in six games. New York made the conference finals last season for the first time since 2000.
The Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks in six games to advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.
To save money, the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason.
Boston superstar Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Knicks series. Tatum hasn’t ruled out playing this season for the Celtics, who won the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
The Knicks signed Mikal Bridges to an extension and added Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele this offseason. They made Jalen Brunson “untouchable” in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo thought about requesting a trade from the Bucks this offseason, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. The Bucks and Knicks never got close to reaching a deal featuring the future Hall of Famer.
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