New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller is a dead man walking, and president Leon Rose is going to want to make a big head coaching hire. Rose and James Dolan should look no further than Kenny Atkinson.

Atkinson and the Brooklyn Nets parted ways on Saturday after he reportedly lost a portion of the locker room and some players lobbied for his removal. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant didn't seem to have much interest in playing for Atkinson, and the head coach apparently wasn't “fond” of coaching Kyrie and KD next season.

Atkinson was continually praised for the job he was doing with the Nets before his surprising departure. Durant even alluded to how Atkinson was part of the reason why he signed with the Nets at the team's September media day. All of a sudden, he's a problem?

Atkinson was commended last season for his efforts in grooming and helping get a young Nets team to the playoffs. They were a model of continuity. They had a core group of youngsters (D'Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen) coming into their own and some veterans (Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, and DeMarre Carroll) who complemented their skill sets. Atkinson, at the very least, had an outside chance at winning Coach of the Year.

The Knicks are in a somewhat similar situation that the Nets were in a year ago. They have a nucleus of players who were drafted by the organization and have some continuity such as Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Frank Ntilikina.

By their side are proven veterans such as Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, and Taj Gibson — although some of them may not be back next season. They're also getting a valiant rookie campaign from No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett.

New York's fatal flaw hasn't been an inability to attract big names, but rather an inability to develop young talent. They've drafted and developed just one All-Star-caliber player over the last decade (Kristaps Porzingis, who's now gone) and developed close to no rotation staples.

There's a lot of young talent on this team. Barrett is a rising star; Robinson has the skill set to be one of the best centers in the NBA; Ntilikina is a disruptive defender; Knox has upside. This group needs direction, which entails having a system in place to hone their weaknesses. It also means having a coach who can develop and get the most out of players. Barrett and Robinson are players they should be able to build around, and Atkinson should be able to get the most out of their skill sets.

Atkinson holds his players to a high standard. He commands excellence defensively, doesn't make excuses for any shortcomings his team may endure, and his teams usually resemble a competitive bunch. They also tend to hoist up a lot of outside jump shots.

Atkinson knows the Atlantic Division, as he coached in it the last four years — this means coaching against the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers — and he can provide insight on Brooklyn. He also has history in the area.

Atkinson was an assistant coach under Mike D'Antoni with the Knicks from 2008-12, and he grew up in Huntington, New York. D'Antoni is held in high regard in the sport, and some find value in hiring a coach or player from the New York area.

From his perspective, the Knicks are a great landing spot taking into account the familiarity he has in the division and the area. It should be a seamless transition from a roster and coaching standpoint. Heck, he wouldn't have to move.

The Knicks don't need to hire someone who can attract top-tier talent, has a great story, or is a safe hire. They simply need a good coach who can develop the roster and make them respectable. Atkinson is cognizant of the New York landscape, has game planned against the Knicks, and is a proven commodity.

Setting a precedent gets players to buy into a system. Sticking to the mission statement leads to sustainable, contagious basketball, which eventually yields more wins and gets players around the sport wanting to play for you.

The Knicks can use a local college university as an example for how to approach an identity crisis in the midst of a coaching search.

Last April, St. John's head coach Chris Mullin stepped down from his position after four years, leaving the university in a difficult situation. They had to decide whether to pursue a big-name coach or someone who could develop young players. They chose the latter, hiring longtime Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson.

The Red Storm began the 2019-20 college season 11-2 but then struggled mightily in conference play, losing 12 of their first 15 Big East matchups. However, Anderson is playing a handful of first- and second-year players who have gradually improved over the season, and the Red Storm finished regular-season play on a high note, winning two of their last three games against the Creighton Bluejays (who are ranked 11th in the country) and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

It has been a grueling season, but one where Anderson has commanded defensive commitment and selfless offensive play. Although a 16-15 record and 5-13 conference record is nothing to boast about, they've come a long way over the last two months and could carry their end-of-season momentum into the 2020-21 season.

The Knicks were the youngest team in the NBA last season, and many players from that team are still on the roster. They have talent, but it just needs direction and a mantra to live by. A coach who can deliver that may have just fallen into their lap.

Kenny Atkinson is perfect for the Knicks.