For all the shapes and contours the Knicks’ search for a new head coach has taken so far, there haven’t been any real surprises: At first, it seemed like interim coach and Phil Jackson disciple Kurt Rambis could be a shoo-in. Then the emergence of ex-Cavaliers coach David Blatt and ex-Pacers coach Frank Vogel as candidates made it appear to be a more open process.

Then Jeff Hornacek’s name came up.

Part...