NEW YORK — The Knicks don’t need to rush. They are a one-of-one — the only franchise in the NBA with an active head coaching vacancy. That means they can afford to take their time. And they should. Because the next move might be the most important yet under Leon Rose’s tenure.

This is their one shot to get it right.

The Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau just three days after falling to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals — a shocking, yet in many ways inevitable, decision that sent shock waves around the league.

But not within the Knicks.

Externally, things may look chaotic — firing the architect of the franchise’s most successful five-year run in a quarter-century. Internally, it’s a calculated pivot. Because for all Thibodeau accomplished, the front office didn’t believe he could take this roster all the way.

And when you zoom out and look at the full picture, what you see is a title contender on paper:

Jalen Brunson at the helm. Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt. Mitchell Robinson anchoring the defense. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges wreaking havoc on both ends of the floor.

The Knicks are positioned to contend. They still need depth — a backup point guard, a second big, and more shooting — but a trip to the NBA Finals seems more attainable than ever before.

Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury will sideline him indefinitely, leaving Boston vulnerable. Darius Garland’s absence will shake Cleveland’s continuity. And the Pacers finished the season as a No. 4 seed who beat an injured Milwaukee Bucks team in Round 1 and an injured Cavaliers team in Round 2 before defeating a fully-healthy Knicks team in the conference finals.

So the East is wide open. The Orlando Magic see the opening, too.

In a bold swing, the Magic sent four first-round picks, veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and impact player Cole Anthony to the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster deal for Desmond Bane. Four first-round picks is typically the going rate in a draft-asset package for a superstar player, and Bane is no superstar, but the Magic clearly believe, in a wide-open East, he is the kind of player who can help get them over the hump.

And the Knicks are on the other side of the spectrum. Their roster needs tinkering, not a seismic shift, but the coach — or the move to fire one — will be what decides which end of the hump they fall.

The Pacers will be back. The Cavaliers remain dangerous. The Magic have now added firepower to a core that was already surging before injuries derailed their momentum. The Pistons, with a healthy Cade Cunningham and more help on the way, should be a problem. And any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo will always have a fighter’s chance — regardless of who flanks him.

But the Knicks are already there.

That’s why this hire matters. That’s why there’s no rush. And that’s why they’ve continued to cast a wide net — even as it’s been painted as chaotic or clumsy from the outside. Internally, it’s clear: the Knicks are being deliberate, not desperate.

They’ve touched base with coaches already under contract and consider it merely due diligence. And sometimes, due diligence sparks movement. Look at the Chicago Bulls: After denying the Knicks permission to speak with Billy Donovan, Chicago is now reportedly preparing a contract extension for a coach with a sub-.500 record over five seasons.

The Knicks have received five rejections so far: Dallas (Jason Kidd), Chicago (Donovan), Atlanta (Quin Snyder), Houston (Ime Udoka) and Minnesota (Chris Finch). Snyder, notably, is entering the final two years of his deal despite consecutive lottery finishes — and could be up for an extension himself.

The door isn’t closed everywhere.

Kidd’s departure from Dallas, for example, hasn’t been fully ruled out. While reports suggest the Mavericks laughed off New York’s request to speak with him, Dallas faces a franchise crossroads: build around top pick Cooper Flagg or continue gambling on the fragile duo of Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Kidd may not want to be around for a rebuild — not with the Knicks offering a ready-made contender.

Kidd is reportedly under contract through the 2027-28 season.

As of now, Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown are among the first round of interview candidates. Jenkins turned Memphis into a powerhouse Western conference contender. Brown brought Sacramento back from the abyss. Both were let go midseason. So were Mike Malone — who coached the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 title — and Mike Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to a championship in 2021 and took the Phoenix Suns job before they canned him midway through the year.

That’s where the Knicks have leverage. With Phoenix filling its opening by hiring Jordan Ott away from Cleveland, New York is now the only team shopping for a head coach. The Knicks are not in a bidding war. They’re not racing the clock. They’re assessing every option on the board.

Because when you’re the only buyer at the table, you set the pace.

The Knicks aren’t scrambling. They’re surveying. Studying. And above all, waiting for the right coach to make their next move.

That coach might not be available just yet. The Knicks are willing to wait, even if they didn’t wait long to move on from Thibs.

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