Though there is no indication Jackson is a candidate for a Garden return, Pitino — who coached the Knicks from 1987-89, and earned AP Coach of the Year this season for St. John’s — took to social media earlier this week to tell his former employer that there is an ideal candidate actually available.

The New York Knicks were denied permission to speak with coaches Jason Kidd of Dallas, Ime Udoka of Houston and Chris Finch of Minnesota in a slow start to find Tom Thibodeau’s replacement.