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Here's our weekly Knicks mailbag with SNY's NBA Insider Ian Begley, this time all about New York's search for a new head coach...

@Tcsmelo2: Pros and Cons of having Thibs as head coach

I could probably fill the whole mailbag with an answer to this question, but for the sake of brevity, I'll go with one in each category:

PRO: If he's hired, Tom Thibodeau would solely be coaching in New York. The last time Thibodeau was only a coach, things worked out pretty well from a bottom-line perspective. He turned the Chicago Bulls into one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. It's hard to argue with his success in the Windy City.

After a fallout in Chicago, Thibodeau took on the role of team president in Minnesota. The Timberwolves reached the playoffs under his guidance -- snapping a 13-year streak -- but his tenure there ended in messy fashion after the trade for Jimmy Butler didn't work out.

Thibodeau, of course, wouldn't have to worry about executing personnel moves in New York. He could focus solely on coaching the team.

Also, Thibodeau reportedly didn't have a good relationship with management in Chicago. It's fair to assume that wouldn't be an issue in New York, as Thibs is close with Knicks president Leon Rose.

CON: Something you hear from some people in touch with a few young players around the league: there is a stigma attached to Thibodeau, and it isn't a positive one. That stigma, generally, goes something like this: he is demanding and difficult to play for. Is this a case of Thibodeau's reputation not accurately reflecting reality? Maybe.

Only players who have played for Thibodeau know the answer to that. But the idea that the perception is out there being discussed by some young players is a bit troubling.

It's worth noting here that Thibodeau talked recently about observing different approaches to practice during his visits with teams over the past year. Will he adapt his approach to practice time/playing time in New York after seeing how other teams handle it? I think Knicks fans worried about this factor should at least consider the idea that Thibodeau can/will change his approach.

@KnicksNationFR: Do you really think that Kenny (Atkinson) could have the same success as a Knicks head coach as he had as a Nets head coach?

I can't think of an obvious reason why Atkinson couldn't have the same success with the Knicks. New York began last season as one of the youngest teams in the league. They have three draft picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Assuming they don't trade their young players or picks in the offseason, the Knicks should have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA again in 2020-21.

That would play to what most see as an Atkinson strength: player development.

In Brooklyn, Atkinson showed you how he can develop young players. Just look at Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris. If he's surrounded by the right support staff, you'd think Atkinson can have the same success with young Knicks like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson in New York.

The question for Atkinson surrounds coaching stars. He didn't have the chance to do that in Brookyn because he was let go last March, before Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had a chance to share the court.

The Knicks, eventually, will be pursuing star players under Rose. If they land one via trade or free agency and Atkinson is the coach, he'll have the chance to show critics that he can he can handle coaching an established star.

Video: What are the odds on Kenny Atkinson as Knicks coach?

@The__Cooler: You know what Larry Brown and Mike D'Antoni have in common. Both were big name coaches and failed in NY because the front office failed to give them good players who fit their style. Eddy Curry, David Lee, Nate, Jamal are not Larry Brown players.

Larry Hughes, Toney Douglas, Carmelo Anthony are not good fits on a D'Antoni team. My point is it doesn't matter who the Knicks hire as coach if the front office can't deliver any talent. Fizdale, say what you will about him, was handed five backup forwards last summer. Then, he was fired when, shockingly, that roster couldn't win games early this season.

There isn't a question in here, but I understand @The_Cooler's point. Getting the right coach is important, but providing that coach with enough talent to win is probably more important. Fizdale didn't have the chance to coach much talent in New York before he was fired last season. The firing was widely viewed as a way for management to show that the roster they put together was competent and that Fizdale was the problem.

If this was management's thinking when they let Fizdale go, things didn't go according to plan. Then, team president Steve Mills was reassigned a few weeks after Fizdale was fired. That underscores @The_Cooler's point: the Knicks can hire the next Gregg Popovich. But they won't be successful with that coach unless they are patient with him/her and they surround him/her with the right talent on the court.

@Jiggyx_1: Information on interviews/when to expect a hire

We've got that covered in most of our stories on the coaching search on SNY.tv. Initial calls/interviews are taking place now. They are brief introductory calls. There will be longer, follow-up interviews in the coming weeks.

The search is expected to extend into July; I expect the Knicks to have a coach in place before the NBA season resumes down in Orlando.

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