Just about every time the Knicks have started to fall apart in recent years, Phil Jackson's name has been indelicately tossed around, like JR Smith heaving a backboard assist, as a potential savior. Maybe Jackson, who retired from coaching the Lakers in 2011, really thinks having meetings is zen or something, because thus far, the Knicks' efforts to lure him to the team have fallen short hilariously. But ESPN is now reporting that Jackson is 'leaning toward' accepting a job as president of basketball operations "in complete control of all basketball-related matters." COMPLETE CONTROL, people. Hmm, something about that sounds sort of familiar.
The Post's source says that Jackson is "real close" to accepting the front-office position with the Knicks. Their league source added that Jackson "has done a lot of research on the Knicks in recent weeks, including watching games, observing their off-the-court issues and studying their roster and cap situation." Jackson was reportedly more interested in a front-office position rather than a coaching job (which he was also offered by current Knicks president Steve Mills).
As we alluded to above, the idea of Knicks owner James Dolan ceding complete control over basketball operations to Jackson is wishful thinking—Donnie Walsh was also given a mandate in 2008 to "do whatever is necessary to turn this team around" without meddling from Dolan. And then Dolan overruled him to make the Carmelo Anthony trade happen, and Walsh quickly left town. So autonomy is a lovely fantasy, but it won't be autonomy that gets Jackson here, or keeps Anthony in Knicks colors after this disastrous season. As the News points out:
Maybe Dolan will throw so much money at Jackson that the Zen guy won’t care that autonomy at the Garden often means being told — by the Garden — to whom he can speak and when he can speak. Maybe Jackson at this point in his career and this point in his basketball life won’t mind being handled and managed and being told, in this small-time way, that he doesn’t need to ever speak to Knicks fans through the media. It is just awfully hard to see it happening with a legend of the game who has been telling you all about it since he started winning championships with Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
The Knicks are also reportedly hoping to use Jackson as a lure for free agents as they try to rebuild their roster this offseason. Jackson started his career with the Knicks, and won 11 NBA championships with the Lakers and the Bulls. A front-office position managing every facet of the team he started his career with sounds like a nice cap on an incredible career, but it's also worth remembering that Jackson very much cares about his legacy and winning, and the Knicks under Dolan haven't exactly been competent, let alone a winning club.
As former MSG president Dave Checketts said a few years ago when Jackson's name was being brought up as a possible replacement for Mike D'Antoni, "I think Phil has too much pride to come back to draw a paycheck; he'll only come back to coach a team that adds to his legacy. Phil would only return for a team that can win it, and I just don't know if you can say that about this Knicks club."
