The New York Knicks missing yet another Playoffs, which is perfect for Phil Jackson and the Knicks front office to start building. Kristaps Porzingis was a good start, they now need to go into free agency and look for players that will want to stay.
Carmelo Anthony has said before that he wants continuity on the team, they can’t keep signing people and either trading them or allowing them to leave. They need to be hard in the paint in free agency and strike gold in the NBA Draft once again.
To me, Phil Jackson has had one foot out of the door since he agreed to be President of the Knicks. But Knicks owner James Dolan doesn’t see that. In fact, Dolan has all the confidence in the world that Phil Jackson will get the long-term job done.
After a recent home game, Dolan was said to be in a chipper mood, telling employees things will turn around. Ever the contrarian, sources say Dolan still trusts Jackson and his system offense as the Knicks reach a coaching crossroads: To triangle or not to triangle?
Some around the league believe Dolan wants Jackson to consider passing the torch to general manager Steve Mills on this coaching hire if he intends to opt out of his contract after next season. However, it is doubtful the 70-year-old Jackson will do that, still hoping to fulfill a five-year, $60 million contract that ends in March 2019.
I am on the side of “Phil Jackson will never coach again”. That is not the problem, he just has to broaden his horizons and ditch the damn Triangle. Hire a coach, any coach. Stop using the Triangle as a Bible and just hire a coach that can get the job done.
As for Jackson’s future. I still have a feeling he’ll bolt at some point.
