Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, now the lead NBA analyst for ABC/ESPN, said he believes the Knicks’ troubles have nothing to do with embattled Mike Woodson but with the roster and the person who built it.
The Post reported in Tuesday’s editions owner James Dolan would consider Van Gundy as a future candidate if he had a vacancy. Van Gundy was until recently persona non grata with Dolan because he quit on him early in the 2001-02 season.
“This isn’t a coaching issue,’’ Van Gundy said on an ESPN Radio show Wednesday. “This is a roster issue. The absolute most important position on any professional team is the people in charge of picking the players. They have to be talented enough and fit together and have an intangible. It’s a hard job but an important job. The last thing the Knicks have is a coaching issue.”
General manager Glen Grunwald built the roster and was fired four days before training camp.
“Mike Woodson is an outstanding basketball coach who does an outstanding job,’’ Van Gundy added. “How can a guy go from being brilliant to being on the proverbial hot seat 16 games into the next season?’’
One NBA source familiar with Dolan’s thinking said Van Gundy “is no longer on the no-fly list.’’ The Post reported Tuesday Dolan’s vote of confidence he mentioned to The Post in an interview last month no longer carries as much weight because the Knicks have lost seven straight games since.
Van Gundy said the starting lineup with Tyson Chandler out with a broken leg isn’t formidable and added, “the depth is nonexistent.’’
Van Gundy reacted predictably to his name being linked to the Knicks job while Woodson still is in place.
“I feel badly, obviously, having coached in New York,’’ he said. “It’s hard enough to win without distractions and without job speculation. I went through it with the Phil Jackson stuff [in 1999]. I understand how difficult it is and I feel badly for Mike.’’
The radio interviewer, Mike Lupica, asked Van Gundy, “Would you like to put it to rest right now because it would make me look good too, coach? C’mon.’’ He did not ask Van Gundy about his coaching future or whether he’d have any interest in coaching the Knicks down the road if there is a vacancy.
When later contacted by The Post, Van Gundy said he would “pass on the opportunity’’ to comment on his coaching future.
“It has some people thinking I’m behind the scenes plotting my return and Mike’s demise — my goodness,’’ Van Gundy said on the radio.