So far, the Knicks offseason has been busy but unfruitful. Phil Jackson failed to sign Steve Kerr as the team’s new head coach, and had already pitched a vision for the franchise to potential free agent Carmelo Anthony including Kerr as the team’s coach. Whether New York recovers with a string of successful moves or continues to strike out, there is sure to be plenty of rumor and speculation in the Big Apple this summer. Here’s the latest:
- Jackson initially offered Kerr a three-year, $13.2MM contract to coach the Knicks, reports Marc Berman of The New York Post. That salary, substantially below what Kerr was seeking, remained on the table for over a week until the Warriors entered into talks with Kerr. Berman blames Jackson’s “low ball” strategy for New York’s missing out on Kerr’s services.
- A league executive described Jackson as “beat down” to Frank Isola of The New York Daily News, following Jackson’s failure to land Kerr. Isola reports that there may already be tension between Jackson and owner James Dolan, who promised the Zen Master complete autonomy over basketball decisions when he signed him as team president. Knicks ownership didn’t appear supportive of the Kerr pursuit, writes Isola.
- Isola adds that while Phil Jackson may give Mark Jackson a chance at the behest of Knicks brass, former players and coaches with ties to the coaching legend remain convinced that he won’t hire a coach he is unfamiliar with.