The Knicks formally asked the Rockets for permission to speak with head coach Ime Udoka and were rejected, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

Amid a critical offseason, the New York Knicks are still in the early stages of a desperate coaching search. After recently firing their coach, Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are hard at work on his replacement, but it seems they'd rather steal a coach from a rival team over finding one on their own.

After firing Thibodeau, Leon Rose and the Knicks have yet to land an interview with an active coach, as they've been denied permission to speak to Jason Kidd, Chris Finch, Ime Udoka, Billy Donovan and Quin Snyder thus far.

Per ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, who happens to be a longtime Knicks fan, that’s the message he’s seemingly heard from Houston. Ime Udoka is one of the best coaches in the NBA. This brother is something better.

The Boston Celtics have had some solid coaches come through the organization over the years. Boston has been one of the more successful teams, and a lot of that