Though the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors were both battling for Steve Kerr as their new head coach, multiple reports indicated that Kerr to the Knicks was pretty much a done deal.  That’s why it was total shocker that Kerr instead chose to go with the Warriors.  Considering they have a better roster, are located in California (Kerr’s home) and offered him a longer contract, it clearly wasn’t the wrong choice.  Still that leaves the Knicks with a dilemma.  Kerr appeared to Phil Jackson’s one and only choice with no plan B’s ever reported.  So where do the Knicks go from here?  Their choices:

1.  Everyone wants Phil Jackson to be the head coach.  Like Stan Van Gundy (Pistons) and Doc Rivers (Clippers), fans want Jackson to pull double duty as president and coach.  Due to the heavy travel and work along with Jackson’s current health state it just won’t happen.  It’s also something he made quite clear several times.

2. Jim Cleamons:  Currently works for the Milwaukee Bucks and previously worked under Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.  He also played with the Knicks alongside Jackson in the 70′s for two years.  Cleamons is familiar with and can implement Jackson’s beloved triangle offense.  He was however not successful as head coach previously with the Dallas Mavericks compiling a 28-70 record in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 (he was fired 12 games into his second season).

3. Kurt Rambis: Also worked under Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers.  Rambis however was an even worse head coach than Cleamons.  Rambis compiled a  32-132 from 2009 to 2011 while coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves.  He later returned to the Lakers working under Mike D’Antoni last season.

4. Brian Shaw:  Many wanted to see him become a head coach and he was finally given a job as the current head coach for the Denver Nuggets.  Shaw worked under Phil Jackson in LA and was expected to take over the reigns before Mike Brown was hired.  Shaw maintains that he has no intentions of leaving his current position with the Nuggets so it’s a veryyyy long shot.

5. Mark Jackson:  He was fired by the Golden State Warriors after vastly improving the team in two years.  Despite his success Warriors front office indicated Jackson had numerous problems with the staff that was far too great to overcome.  Jackson is from New York and played with the Knicks but has no relationship with Jackson and isn’t familiar with the triangle.  It’s unclear if Jackson would be able to implement the type of system Phil is looking for.

6.  Derek Fisher:  There’s been numerous reports that Fisher will make the Jason Kidd leap going straight from retired player to head coach.  Fisher was previously mentioned as an option for the Lakers and is now mentioned with the Knicks due to his close relationship with his former coach Phil Jackson.

7. Tyronn Lue:  I know this one threw me for a loop too but according to reports he too will get a look.  Lue played under Jackson as a member of the Lakers and has served as an assistant under Doc Rivers with the Clippers.

8. Jeff Van Gundy:  This is all the fans who want to bring back their beloved coach turned blunt color commentator.

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)