Rambis wants to keep working with Phil, doesn't consider himself a puppet

New York Knicks head coach Kurt Rambis is reportedly under serious consideration to have his "interim" tag removed this offseason, and he's naturally enticed by the prospect of a bit more job security with the franchise.

"It would be fantastic," he told reporters Wednesday.

Rambis was promoted from his assistant position by Knicks president Phil Jackson after then-coach Derek Fisher was fired in early February. Jackson has long indicated that he wants Rambis - who served as an assistant under him for several years with the Los Angeles Lakers - to remain at the helm beyond this season.

This in spite of the fact that Rambis is already embroiled in conflict with at least one Knicks player, and has reportedly garnered less respect in the locker room than Fisher before him.

Jackson has made no secret of the fact that a willingness to run the triangle offense is an important criterion for any potential Knicks coach going forward. Some within the organization, including several players, have suggested that part of the reason Jackson favors Rambis is that he's easier to micromanage than Fisher, and is "more than willing to do things Jackson's way," according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

Jackson has reportedly been taking a more active role in practices, and in the general ground-floor oversight of the team. He even reportedly mulled proposing an arrangement that would see him coach the team's home games next season.

Rambis, though, feels he has a bit more agency over the situation than he's been given credit for.

"I don't consider myself a puppet of (Phil's)," he said Wednesday, explaining that the two men simply share the same basketball vision.

Meanwhile, it's unclear how long Jackson will even remain in New York's front office, as he can opt out of his contract after the 2016-17 season, and both the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers appear to be preparing contingency plans in the event that he does so.