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Report: Blatt Met With Knicks To Discuss Head Coach Opening

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's hard to know if Phil Jackson just did due diligence or a favor for someone.

Those might be the only plausible explanations for the Knicks reportedly meeting with David Blatt on Monday to discuss the team's head coaching vacancy. While there have been rumblings suggesting New York has actual interest in the former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, few believe Jackson will go in that direction.

The meeting between Blatt and Jackson was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

Blatt, who was fired by the Cavaliers midway through last season despite amassing an 83-40 record and one trip to the NBA Finals during his season-plus tenure, seems like a long shot to get the Knicks' job. He's not a disciple of the triangle offense, which Jackson has intimated must be a prerequisite for anyone to be seriously considered for the job.

What Blatt is, according to the Daily News, is a friend of Knicks general manager Steve Mills. The two were teammates together at Princeton University, so that could explain why the 56-year-old got a foot in Jackson's door.

MORESchmeelk: David Blatt Rumors Won't Change Knicks' Direction

Blatt fell out of favor in Cleveland last season due to philosophical differences with the Cavs' star player, LeBron James, and was replaced by assistant Tyronn Lue.

Jackson promised to take his time finding a new head coach and so far has been true to his word. At this point, only Blatt, Golden State assistant Luke Walton and Knicks interim bench boss Kurt Rambis have reportedly spoken to Jackson about becoming New York's first full-time head coach since Derek Fisher was let go just 54 games into this past season, his second with the team.

Rambis went 9-19 after taking over as the Knicks finished 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

The news on Walton, the hot shot sidekick to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, has been murky at best, with conflicting reports about his actual interest in the Knicks' job.

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