If Larry Brown remains in Detroit as expected, it is believed the competition for the Knicks helm comes down to Herb Williams Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer.
Williams finished the season as head coach after Lenny Wilkens much anticipated departure, and with Laimbeer reportedly telling one member of the Pistons' family he's got the job if Brown doesn't Williams has a message: Don't be so cocky.
"I feel confident about it," Williams told The Post. "Yeah, well, I know his name has been out there a lot. But I feel confident."
Williams would understand if Thomas chose Brown over him, but would be perplexed to be passed up for Laimbeer. "Larry's situation is still going on," Williams said. "So I'm not sure what's going on."
It would be a giant risk for Thomas to bring in Laimbeer at this point. Williams is running the summer-league (Mark Aguirre will run the bench) and is teaching the three new rookies ? Channing Frye, David Lee, Nate Robinson ? his new playbook that features a freer system.