The Knicks are closing in on a deal to add Clippers assistant Brendan O’Connor to a top position on Mike Brown’s staff, league sources tell SNY.
O’Connor, a longtime assistant coach, has a strong defensive acumen. He’s worked for the Clippers under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. He will be Brown’s top assistant on defense. The Knicks have been looking to add two coaches to Brown’s staff, and their next hire will presumably be Brown’s associate head coach.
Brown will keep some coaches from Tom Thibodeau’s staff, including Darren Erman, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, Rick Brunson and Jordan Brink.
New York has been denied permission to speak to several assistant coaches the club had interest in. The Knicks were in touch with Pablo Prigioni for a top assistant spot, but Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota.
Sirius XM’s Frank Isola first reported that the Knicks and O’Connor were close to a deal. The New York Post first reported that O’Connor will be the top defensive assistant in New York.
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