The New York Knicks parted ways with Phil Jackson, their incumbent President of Basketball Operations, on Wednesday. Just days before the start of free agency, it was strange timing for a move that could have been completed weeks ago.
Now, their focus shifts to free agency with current general manager Steve Mills leading the way. But that doesn’t mean that they are not looking for a replacement for Jackson.
The team has most often been linked to Masai Ujiri, the Toronto Raptors’ PoBO. But Ujiri has only recently accepted a five-year extension to continue running the Raptors. Any attempt to interview and hire Ujiri would require the Raptors’ permission and, more importantly, compensation given to his current employers.
That’s why, as ESPN’s Ian Begley reported on Wednesday, it’s unlikely that Ujiri and the Knicks form a partnership:
But with Ujiri in the midst of a recently signed five-year contract, league sources said it would be extremely difficult for the Knicks to pry him away, as New York has been reluctant to part with any draft picks in recent years as it tries to build around young center Kristaps Porzingis. Because of this, league sources indicated the Knicks will be considering several candidates to replace Jackson.
Any discussion with Ujiri — who is facing a potential rebuild of his own, should the Raptors lose free agents Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, PJ Tucker and Patrick Patterson — would first require permission and then steep compensation (such as draft picks), which league sources said was unlikely for the Knicks, given their current roster construction.
Ujiri is the type of executive that could finally take the Knicks out of their decades-long drought. But giving up picks to attain him (and the Raptors should hold out for them) would effectively be the same mistake the Knicks made in trading for Carmelo Anthony.
Regardless of the circumstances, Bruce Arthur of The Star reported earlier on Wednesday that the Knicks feel “confident” they can hire the Raptors’ president. Toronto recently promoted a new general manager and with the potential for a rebuild on the horizon as Kyle Lowry is a free agent, it may not be out of the realm of possibilities for the Raptors to part ways with Ujiri.
It’s been speculated, but not reported, that the Knicks will also reach out to recently fired Cavs’ GM David Griffin and Cavs’ target Chauncey Billups as part of their ongoing search.
