Knicks hire Derek Fisher as head coach

Story @ Yahoo! NBA

Derek Fisher was never the best player, certainly not the tallest or quickest.

But whether on the court with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, or across the bargaining table from David Stern and Adam Silver, he never feared taking the shot, speaking his mind, or doing whatever else was expected of a leader.

So he has every attribute the New York Knicks need - except experience as a coach, the job they hired him to do.

''But I am experienced,'' Fisher said Tuesday. ''Basketball is a game that I am experienced in playing, understanding, leading in, guiding in, helping another group of people achieve the greatest gift in the world as a professional athlete, and that's being a champion. That I have experience in, and that's the experience that I plan on sharing with these players, sharing with this organization.''

For the second year in a row, a player goes immediately from the court to the coaching ranks. Depending on what kind of roster moves the Knicks can make this offseason, I'd expect similar results to Jason Kidd's first year in Brooklyn; they'll have their moments, maybe make the Playoffs, but don't expect much more than that.

Microscope on.

Phil and Fisher pedigree, and they are interviewing Rambis(former assistant) so they are already putting together the pieces. I wouldn't be surprised if they made some moves for familiar veterans who may have played for Phil or with Fish to mentor younger role players in the first year.

Melo will be smart to stay.

I'm starting to think that if Melo doesnt want Derek to be his coach, he'll go to the Lakers. Lakers are rumored to be luring players so that the players themselves would pick their new coach.

I don't know if the Lakers is an attractive team for Melo though. Melo said he wants to win but the Lakers don't really have much going on unless they can net another quality player along with Melo, perhaps Monroe(or Love)?

If he ever leaves, it'd be chance for the ring but I can't imagine Melo considering the Lakers as one of those serious contenders. Look at Kobe's payroll for instance.

He has to give up a lot of money to leave the Knicks anyway(though the Knicks could s&t). I think he'll listen to the available offers as he stated he wants to taste what it's like to be a FA, but I like the Knicks chance at retaining him at the end.

Good luck to Fish. Will be interesting to see him flanked by the likes of Kurt Rambis and Luke Walton in New York.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping that he will do well. I want to see him make Odom and Shannon Brown solid players on a playoff team!

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Exactly