Rumor: Knicks may make $50 million offer to Phil Jackson

[Big Bid'Ness]

Fromrobasketballtalk

Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire may want Mike Woodson back — especially ‘Melo — but that likely is not what Knicks ownership is thinking in terms of who coaches the Knicks next year.

Check out this rumor from the Journal Times in Racine.

If the New York Knicks don’t advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, I’m hearing they’ll make a major — repeat, major — push to lure legendary coach Phil Jackson out of retirement. With money being no object, the scuttlebutt is the Knicks brass may offer the “Zen Master” a four-year, $50 million deal.

First off, while that is major money, it’s not really more than he made at his peak during his second stint with the Lakers, when he pulled $12 million a year. (At the request of owner Jerry Buss Jackson took a pay cut his last season.)

There is a buzz around the idea of Phil Jackson to the Knicks — owner James Dolan wants to win and wants to make a splash and this would be the biggest splash there is. Jackson was a player on the last Knicks team to win a title in 1973 and has long had an affinity for the city. He brings 11 rings. Of course, also he brings an offensive system that is a questionable fit for the roster (especially if they go after Steve Nash).

But I still think that the physical grind on Jackson was too much last time around. Just watching him that last season with the Lakers, I don’t think he wants to come back and be a head coach anymore. His health and ability to enjoy all that money he already has earned matters to him and I think wins out in the end.

The Knicks may flirt with others — John Calipari, maybe — but may well end up back at Woodson. Who has done a good job getting the Knicks to play defense. He has earned another crack at this. And he comes in at a better price than Jackson.

 

[Mexi]

wow thats huge

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Waste.

 

[MR.ballin]

50mill? Wow. Good thing that isn't going to affect the salary cap.

 

[elcheato]

Waste.

How? James Dolan isn't exactly strapped for cash.

It's the owners money, it doesn't effect the cap or anything really.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

How? James Dolan isn't exactly strapped for cash.

It's the owners money, it doesn't effect the cap or anything really.

Because the big pieces of that roster who won't be leaving anytime soon in noway are made for the triangle.

Not saying Jackson isn't a great coach, because he obviously is, but spending 50M on a coach who's system won't fit that team is a waste. The triangle is unique, it's not like other systems that you can adjust to fit your players best attributes, you need certain players to execute it, and the Knicks don't have those guys.

 

[Mexi]

i actually think the knicks roster fits the tri pretty well

 

[Giantmetfan07]

im not that knowledgeable of the triangle offense, so correct me if i sound like a dumbass, but... wouldn't the Tri put Stoudemire in the post a lot, rather than more pick and rolls?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

i actually think the knicks roster fits the tri pretty well

It isn't.

The triangle is largely a motion and R&R offense. People like to think that the triangle is built to get guys like Kobe and Michael Jordan (or Melo) the ball on the wing in iso situations. It isn't. The triangle is all about the post up game, it's all about getting the ball to your bigs in post up position.

The biggest thing with the triangle is movement, and I think we can all agree the Knicks don't move well. They just like to come down and watch Melo, Amare, or even Lin work. And when another player finally gets their chance, that ball is going up.

So back to the post. Is Amare a good post up player? Personally, I think of him much more as a high post face up kind of guy. Is Tyson Chandler a good post up guy? Nope. So you don't have the guy to form the tip of the triangle, because he is no real post threat.

The triangle is about spacing, cutting, and good ball movement. The Knicks players like to stand around and wait for their turn to play a pickup game, mostly, like I said before. You also have to be real disciplined, and the Knicks certainly aren't that either.

Though I will say the triangle takes a good portion of double ability away, especially in the post, creating iso situations for guys like Kobe and Jordan. But the only way you even get there is with spacing, ball movement, player movement, etc. The Knicks guys aren't disciplined enough to do that.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

they could move better if they had a decent PG. When they try to move around a lot, Baron turns it over. And don't even get me started on Bibby and Douglas running the point.

Actually, JR's done a good job playing PG a few times the last 2 weeks and been able to move the ball around to get Novak an open 3.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

they could move better if they had a decent PG. When they try to move around a lot, Baron turns it over. And don't even get me started on Bibby and Douglas running the point.

Actually, JR's done a good job playing PG a few times the last 2 weeks and been able to move the ball around to get Novak an open 3.

The PG is the one thing I've never really understood about the triangle. I know the PG normally plays on the weakside, in the two man game, but if you look at the PG's Jackson has had in the triangle, they are less than impressive.

I've heard that's because the PG basically just beats pressure and gets you into the triangle (it's set up to go on either side) and then goes to the weakside and spots up or prepares for a two man game (like a pinch screen).

 

[Giantmetfan07]

im just saying, they stand around because their PGs can't move, lol.

 

[Mexi]

so nola you're saying the lakers could use lamar odom and chris mihm and bulls could use rodman and longley, but the knicks can't use amare and tyson?

 

[Elite]

What did the Lakers win with Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm as their main bigs?

 

[Mexi]

knicks don't have more talent than Luke, Mihm, and Smush. you're right

 

[jonathanlambert33]

so nola you're saying the lakers could use lamar odom and chris mihm and bulls could use rodman and longley, but the knicks can't use amare and tyson?

The Lakers had Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Shaquille O'Neal...

The Bulls had Horace Grant and Bill Cartwright. Luc Longley was decent...

The Lakers worst seasons under Jackson was after Shaq and before Bynum became a force. When they didn't have someone to make other teams respect their post up game. That isn't coincidence.

And Lamar Odom was rarely the post up guy.

 

[dez]

I don't have enought knowledge about the triangle to comment on how Phil would run our offense if hired but I will say whether we decide to keep Woody or go after Phil I'm all for it long as its not Calipari, he's just not a NBA coach

 

[cruzg24]

I dont think Phil Jackson and this Knicks team are a good fit to improve the team. But I also think that a move hiring Phil Jackson would attract even more successful players to want to join the Knicks for a championship run. He would bring a level of stability to the team that it hasnt had for a while with coaches not sure about their job security.

Dolan is going to make a big run for Phil Jackson because he is the kind of person who likes to make big splashes. Ultimately, they will try to pay Phil what he wants and being a former Knick helps out a lot at the chances of getting him. Something else worth noting is that if Phil were to be hired, he would immediately have the respect of all the players on the team, as opposed to former Knicks coaches.