#Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks staffing search coming into focus

As Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks front office go over names for the new coaching staff in the coming days, one blast from Thibodeau’s past – and New York’s past – will come up.

According to an NBA source, Ed Pinckney, the former Villanova star who won an NCAA title and is a product of the South Bronx projects, is expected to be strongly considered.

Pinckney who won the PSAL title in 1980 with Stevenson High, weaved a 12-year NBA career, became a Villanova assistant, then spent five seasons with Thibodeau in Chicago before joining him briefly in Minnesota. Pinckney was let go by the Wolves after the 2018-19 season months after Thibodeau was fired.

The 6-foot-9 former power forward would be brought in to be the Knicks big-man coach. Under David Fizdale, assistant Pat Sullivan worked with the bigs, got along well with center Mitchell Robinson and was chosen by GM Scott Perry. Sullivan still has a year left on his contract. It’s unclear if Perry will push for Sullivan, a Jersey native, to return.

Meanwhile, there have been internal talks about Pat Zipfel joining as either an advance scout or bench coach. Zipfel, who worked under Daryl Morey in Houston, is considered one of the NBA’s top advance scouts. Zipfel was Thibodeau’s advance man for part of his Bulls and Minnesota stints. The advance scout is considered part of the coaching staff.

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While Mike Woodson and Mike Miller are considered near locks to join the staff at the front office’s recommendation, Thibodeau, as already reported here, would push most for Andy Greer.

Greer is a former Knicks assistant and Manhattan native who became Thibodeau’s top assistant in Chicago and Minnesota. In addition, Dice Yoshimoto, who started as a video coordinator in Chicago, is considered Thibodeau’s jack-of-all-trades guy. Larry Greer, Andy’s brother who was on the Minnesota staff, is also a candidate.

Perry said Thursday Thibodeau will have “autonomy” to hire assistant coaches but The Post has reported president Leon Rose and VP William Wesley want heavy input.