Phil Jackson is gone, but owner James Dolan’s next move will determine how soon the Knicks can rebuild, writes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. It’s not clear yet whom New York is targeting to take Jackson’s place, but the author points out that Dolan has a history of poor decisions when it comes to choosing someone to run his basketball team. An obvious choice, Bontemps notes, is former Cavaliers GM David Griffin, who couldn’t reach a new agreement in Cleveland.
GM Steve Mills will run the Knicks until a new president is hired, and Bontemps says he should start building the team around Kristaps Porzingis. He adds that Jackson’s feud with Porzingis, not the long-running one with Carmelo Anthony, is what led to today’s decision. Jackson shopped Porzingis around the league last week, and although there was plenty of interest, no offers were deemed acceptable.
There’s much more from a memorable day in New York:
- Former Knicks executive and current New York Liberty president Isiah Thomas will not be considered to run the team, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. He adds that Jackson’s dismissal also endangers his top advisor, Clarence Gaines Jr.
- Knicks consultant Tim Leiweke will lead the search for Jackson’s replacement, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Lots of candidates are expected, and one source in the organization told her, “We’re letting the phone ring.”
- Leiweke has a close tie to Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who is rumored to be a candidate to take Jackson’s place, notes Sam Amick of USA Today. Leiweke is a former CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment group and hired Ujiri as Toronto’s GM in 2013. Many in the league office would like to see Ujiri join the Knicks, Amick adds, to finally have a well-run team in New York.
- Toronto extended Ujiri’s contract last summer in anticipation of Jackson’s firing, according to Michael Grange of SportsNet. Ujiri had two seasons left on his deal, but the Raptors got him to agree to a new five-year pact to keep him in the organization. Grange expects Toronto to flatly deny any requests from the Knicks to speak with Ujiri.
- The Knicks’ roster is in disarray as Jackson leaves, claims Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Joakim Noah‘s contract, which pays him more than $55MM over the next three years, continues to weigh down the organization, while 32-year-old Courtney Lee is signed for three more seasons at $36MM. The team has about $20MM in cap space, but Deveney states that players like Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague have little reason to come to New York.
- There are five moves to set the Knicks on the right path, Deveney writes in a separate piece. He recommends buying out Anthony if a trade can’t be found, firing coach Jeff Hornacek, trading Lee, pursuing restricted free agents such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tony Snell and Jonathon Simmons and planning the future around Porzingis.
Great fit for Cleveland?
The knicks problems stretch WAY beyond Jackson. They will be bad for quite a long time.
I don’t understand why we are looking at guys like Teague and Rose. Why don’t we just go with Frank and see how good the kid can do.
Nkitilina is too young and inexperienced to be expected to play significant minutes from start to finish. He’s going to need time and you’re going to want a quality guard in the event Frank doesn’t perform well.
Signing Teague or Rose to a LT deal just means Frank never plays.
I never said they should be looking to sign guards who look to be future anchors. I said to have quality guards around so Nkitilina can learn at his own pace.
Jrue Holiday is the only smart target, yet I don’t seeing him coming here. So logically there is Rose. Offer Rose a 2 year contract, allowing him to prove that he’s worth the money to someone or at minimum worth trading. Ntilikina, not sure if his body is ready for an 82 game season as a starter. We shall see.
go with young vets from winning programs…Ian Clark from GS. J .Simmons, Otto Porter. maybe a trade with Detroit for Reggie Jackson, or Phoenix for Bledsoe….just dont trade anybof the Euro kids….start Frank and find a good backup.. let him play/learn from mistakes.
The Knicks already tried trading for Jackson, so i dont see that happening. As for letting Ntilikina start, only if the Knicks truly hit the reset button will that benefit him. So it all depends on what the Knicks do once the free agency period begins.
Sign Rose for 2 yrs and play him & the kid in the same backcourt like Philly used to do with Aaron Mckie & Iverson.
Probably not gonna start Frank right away but a rotation of him, Lee & Rose should be OK.
I think they should keep Melo & Hornacek as coach and just see what they can do without the stupid triangle holding everybody down. Sign a couple free agents for the bench and don’t sign Rose long term give him a year or 2 do he can feel he can reestablish himself for a payday. Tell Melo look you got what you want now it’s time to make it happen. There is talent on this team I think Phil and his trying to coach from the sidelines are holding them back.