Overview

• The Knicks are closing in on hiring Brendan O’Connor as defensive coordinator under Mike Brown.
• O’Connor has been a Clippers assistant since 2013 and previously served under Larry Brown, developing close ties with Knicks executive William Wesley.
• The staff additions include Charles Allen and Riccardo Fois, two of Brown’s former assistants from the Sacramento Kings.
• Last season’s defense fell to 13th in the NBA, prompting a priority on defensive expertise in the staff rebuild.
• The Knicks are still seeking an associate head coach for their offense after failed pursuits of James Borrego, Jay Triano and Pablo Prigioni.