Mike Woodson Wants Sit-Down With Phil Jackson
With Phil Jackson now embedded at the top of the basketball decision-making hierarchy in New York, current Knicks head coach Mike Woodson would like a sit-down with his new boss, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. While Woodson has said the right things about Jackson, it’s no secret that his future with the Knicks is uncertain despite being under contract for next season.
The Knicks are hoping to hold Jackson’s introductory press conference on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, reports Berman, providing an opportunity for such a meeting to take place. Rumors have begun to swirl about Jackson installing his signature triangle offense in New York, which would likely necessitate a new coach. Woodson is hoping for fair consideration.
“I would want him to view me as a coach,’’ Woodson said. “If and when that time comes, I would just love the chance to sit with him and talk basketball. He’s a basketball guy, I’m a basketball guy. This is 30 years I’ve spent in this league so that’s what we’ll do, but until that happens my focus is strictly on trying to get this team in the playoffs. That’s it.’’
Berman lists Steve Kerr, Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw and Bucks assistant Jim Cleamons as former Jackson disciples who might draw consideration. He also mentions Nate McMillan as a “strong possibility” before implying that past tension with Jackson might dispel the possibility for Jeff Van Gundy‘s return to New York.
Phil Jackson Rumors: Tuesday
Monday it appeared that the Knicks felt they were close to a deal with Phil Jackson, but the Zen Master’s camp didn’t see the talks as nearing completion. We rounded up all the latest from Monday in a single post, and we’ll keep track of today’s updates on Jackson and the Knicks here.
- Knicks owner James Dolan has reportedly solicited the help of Bill Bradley as an intermediary in the team’s negotiations with Jackson, says Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Bradley is Jackson’s longtime friend and former teammate.
- Isola adds that Dolan and Bradley have been working together to finalize an agreement that would make Jackson the highest-paid executive in NBA history, with a deal that could pay in excess of $15MM annually.
- A source close to Jackson indicates that the two sides have had preliminary discussions about Jackson possibly owning a minority stake in the team.
Earlier updates:
- The Knicks have competition for Jackson, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who hears that the Pistons are “very much in the mix” for the Zen Master with Joe Dumars unlikely to return. The Cavs have reached out as well, although their interest is “somewhat muddied” at present, Kyler writes.
- Still, it’s “highly unlikely” that Jackson will return to the Lakers, Kyler adds.
- Steve Kerr reiterated to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv today that he would like to coach in the NBA, though he didn’t address the Knicks specifically. If Jackson hires Kerr, Kyler suggests he’ll go after Cavs interim GM David Griffin to run the day-to-day operations for the Knicks.
- Reports that Jackson is strongly leaning toward taking the Knicks job are “greatly exaggerated,” a source close to Jackson tells Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio.
- The Knicks are “very confident” they’ll finalize a deal with Jackson by the end of the week, though a formal announcement might not come until next week, a source tells Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. The Knicks don’t feel as though Jackson would take a job with the Lakers or another club at this point. Jackson would gain control of the Knicks basketball operations department, displacing Mills, but Mills would remain an “integral” part of the team even if Jackson is hired, Broussard writes.
- A source tells Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that the meeting in which Steve Mills spoke to Jackson about coaching the team was a “disaster.” Jackson doesn’t want to work with Mills, the source says. Mills would retain a role of some sort within the organization if Jackson came aboard, but he wouldn’t be active in day-to-day operations, according to Isola. Mills has been committed to the idea of firing Mike Woodson, though he’s against hiring an interim coach and would prefer to go after marquee names in the offseason. Isola identifies John Calipari, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Tom Thibodeau as likely candidates for a Mills-led search, but it’s unclear if Jackson would go after any of the same.
- In any case, it’s clear that owner James Dolan, and not Mills or anyone else in the Knicks organization, is negotiating with Jackson now, Isola writes in a separate piece, adding that the salary on the table for the Zen Master is believed to be $12MM a year. Isola suggests that if Jackson takes the job, he’s “destined” to bring in his own front office staff, including a new general manager to run the day-to-day operations. Isola speculates that Byron Scott and Kurt Rambis could become coaching candidates in this scenario. Still, the Daily News scribe wonders if Jackson is using the Knicks offer to finagle a job with the Lakers, citing general managers from around the league who say that his heart lies with the purple-and-gold.
- Marc Berman of the New York Post contradicts Isola with regard to Mills, writing that the current Knicks president and general manager would retain a similar role if Jackson came aboard because of Mills’ aplomb with handling agents. Agents question Jackson’s sincerity, Isola notes.
- Berman also writes in his piece that Woodson will probably have to make the second round of the playoffs to keep his job.
Knicks Links: Carmelo, Kerr, Jackson
Earlier tonight on Twitter, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders shared some thoughts about Carmelo Anthony‘s possible free agency this summer. To paraphrase, he doesn’t see Anthony leaving the Knicks unless it’s a sign-and-trade, and while some may speculate that the hometown star will take less money to stay in place, it almost never happens that way. Kyler is also uncertain if any other team would be willing to offer four years and $22.4MM per to land the soon-to-be 30-year-old forward.
If the Bulls show interest, Kyler adds that the only way he can see Carmelo going to Chicago is if they’re able to unload Carlos Boozer‘s deal in a sign-and-trade, and even if that materializes, he isn’t sure if they’d be willing to pay the former Syracuse star max money over the final two years of his deal (Five Twitter links to share).
Here’s more out of New York tonight:
- Former player and current TNT analyst Steve Kerr is aware of the speculation that he’d be considered a coaching candidate for the Knicks if Phil Jackson were to take a front-office position with the team, writes Justin Terranova of the New York Post. Coincidentally, Kerr was in New York today for a CBS/NCAA Tournament press conference and commented on the situation: “I understand the speculation…I’ve said I wanted to coach at some point in my life, I know Phil, I played for him [with the Bulls]. People are sort of connecting the dots, but it’s very uncomfortable commenting on speculation, especially when it comes to someone else’s jobs.”
- More from Kerr, who confirmed that he’d be interested in coaching at some point: “I was the general manager in Phoenix for three years, and I loved being on the court with the players…That’s when it piqued my interest…I’m always going to keep my eyes open. I think it’s important in life to always keep looking forward and being open to new things.”
- Kerr told Al Iannazzone of Newsday that based on his conversations with Jackson over the years, he knows that the former Bulls and Lakers coach wants to be working in a front office at this point: “Well, I’ve stayed in touch with Phil over the years and I know just from being with him at times that this is what he wants to do is build a franchise.”
Phil Jackson Rumors: Monday
The top story across the NBA as the week begins is Phil Jackson‘s job offer from the Knicks, which he’s reportedly leaning toward accepting. There’s plenty of chatter surrounding that decision, so let’s dive in:
- There’s no guarantee that Jackson will take the job and those in his circle do not believe that an agreement is close, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Meanwhile, one source claims that owner James Dolan will not give complete autonomy to anyone in the front office.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (on Twitter) says that Steve Kerr could be a head coaching candidate if Jackson takes the job.
- Adam Zagoria of SNY (on Twitter) hears that Jackson would get a deal worth ~$10MM per season.
Earlier updates:
- In a full story, Broussard writes that Jackson will “definitely” not coach the Knicks, and says that owner James Dolan would retain a voice in the club’s decision-making even with Jackson around. Jackson’s hiring would also likely please the team’s non-CAA clients, one of whom complained to Broussard about the preferential treatment that the Knicks give to players affiliated with the agency.
- All indications are that Jackson will take the job, a source tells Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. The title of the position remains unclear, but Jackson will not coach or become a consultant. The possibility of a last-minute change of heart remains, but the Knicks have the sense that he’ll accept their offer (Twitter links).
- Jackson is expected to let the Knicks know his choice today, notes Peter Botte of the New York Daily News. Although other reports suggest that he’s looking for the final word on basketball operations, as Pat Riley has with the Heat, a Jackson confidant claims he’d instead prefer to become more of a consultant, as Jerry West is with the Warriors.
- Carmelo Anthony said this weekend that the team hadn’t told him of any pursuit of Jackson, observes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “I don’t even know what’s going on with that,’’ Anthony said late Saturday night. “Nobody came to me about that. Until that time comes, I’m not going to know what’s going on. It’s hard to say at this particular moment. If anything, it’s not going to be right now. I’m pretty sure they’d try to wait for the offseason and then we’ll deal with all that stuff.”
- It’s possible that Jackson wouldn’t start working for the Knicks until after the season, Berman notes, which would jibe with Anthony’s comment. Jackson is reportedly seeking assurance that Anthony will remain with the Knicks.
- A friend of Anthony who’s “intimately” involved in his decision regarding free agency said last month that he wasn’t sure that ‘Melo would re-sign, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, who examines how Jackson could affect Melo’s willingness to stay. Begley notes that Jackson, unlike Anthony and many in the Knicks organization, isn’t a client of the Creative Artists Agency.
Odds & Ends: Kerr, Bledsoe, Pistons, LeBron
Former Suns GM Steve Kerr is enjoying life behind the microphone, but he still has the itch to get back to the other side. However, if he does transition back to the NBA, it might not be as a General Manager. “I have a lot of thoughts about coaching,” Kerr said. “If I get back in, I think it will be on the coaching side. My favorite part of the GM role in terms of my relationships was just dealing with players down on the court. I’d go to practice every day, and I’d let the coaches coach, but just getting to know the players and dealing with them and talking strategy, that really appealed to me. I think if I get back, which I anticipate, it would be on the coaching side,” Kerr told Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. Here’s more from around the Association..
- All indications are that even though an extension didn’t get done at the October deadline, Eric Bledsoe wants to stay with the Suns, writes John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Gambadoro also opines that it makes sense for both parties to wait things out until after Bledsoe’s first full season as a starter.
- Guards O.J. Mayo and Monta Ellis are playing well after swapping teams in the offseason, and as the Bucks and Mavs prepare to meet tonight, Mayo isn’t too hung up on his time in Dallas, as Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel observes. “I forgot all about it, man,” Mayo said of his Mavs stint. “It’s another year. I’ve got a short memory span. I’m looking forward to (Saturday).“
- In today’s mailbag, David Mayo of MLive.com writes that it’s too early to gauge whether coach Maurice Cheeks is the right man for the Pistons.
- LeBron James‘ wife is opening up her own business in Miami and Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel wonders if that could be a factor in her husband’s free agent decision next offseason.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Celtics, Anderson
According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, Knicks coach Mike Woodson plans to meet with GM Steve Mills and team brass either tonight or tomorrow to determine the five cuts he has to make before Monday’s deadline. In another piece, Braziller writes about how Carmelo Anthony took it upon himself to have a heart-to-heart talk with J.R. Smith about the importance of staying focused and keeping out of trouble moving forward.
You can find more of tonight’s links out of the Atlantic Division below:
- Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston notes that Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is “very proud” of Rajon Rondo‘s progress in rehab: “I think he’s working as hard as he can. I’ve been very proud of him of how he really wants to get out there and I think he wants to get out there, not for his own benefit, but he wants to really help the team. He sees how he’s missed and he just loves to play. He wants to get back for all the right reasons.”
- Ainge also elaborated on why he wants to keep the team under the luxury tax: “Right now we’re barely under the luxury tax, so we really have no choice…If there are deals made later in the year, that would open up roster spots and open up to keep us under the tax. But we will stay under the tax this year. We have to. As we’re rebuilding, not just from a standpoint of the financial budget, but as a competitive advantage.”
- Yesterday, we heard that James Anderson was one player who had “all but wrapped up” a spot on the 76ers’ roster. Today, Tom Moore of The Intelligencer discusses how Anderson secured a spot in Philadelphia after establishing himself as a starter and the team’s top perimeter threat.
- Former NBA executive and current NBA analyst Steve Kerr explains why he thinks the Knicks are the fifth-best team in the East (Justin Terranova of the New York Post).
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers took time to defend current Nets Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the criticism hurled at them by LeBron James last week, who insinuated that they had abandoned Boston: “Paul and Kevin were traded…They were traded. Paul was traded whether he wanted to be or not. Kevin was the only one who had to agree to be traded even though he had already been traded. He had to agree to the trade. That’s completely different…You could make more of a case for me leaving than Paul and Kevin” (Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News [hat tip to ESPN Radio in Miami]).
Odds & Ends: Webster, Wright, Pachulia
In his Weekend Dime piece, ESPN's Marc Stein writes that one of the main reasons for the Wizards dealing Jordan Crawford for Leandro Barbosa's expiring contract – despite Barbosa being out from a season ending injury – was to create more flexibility to increase their chances of retaining Martell Webster this summer. The former Seattle Prep star is arguably having his best pro season in Washington this year, putting up career bests in scoring (11.7), free throw percentage (86.4%), field goal percentage (45.4%), and three-point percentage (43.3%) in 29.3 MPG. Here are a few more tidbits from around the league tonight:
- Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago (via Twitter) expects Mavericks big man Brandan Wright to be an under-the-radar commodity this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
- Hawks center Zaza Pachulia – projected to be out six months after season ending surgery next week – says that he hasn't thought about his future and adds, "I'm still part of this team until July 31," tweets Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
- Derek Page of HoopsWorld held his weekly chat with readers this afternoon, discussing how Nerlens Noel and Cody Zeller are his top overall draft prospects and that the Mavericks won't rebuild until Dirk Nowitzki is finished playing, among other topics.
- Looking back at the summer of 2010, former Suns GM Steve Kerr says that he, along with Phoenix brass and their medical staff, agreed that a large financial commitment to Amare Stoudemire would not have been prudent considering the possible health issues down the line (Frank Isola of the New York Daily News).
Odds & Ends: Hunter, Smart, Larkin
Here are a few more odds and ends to round up the latest on the Association tonight:
- Scott Bordow of AZ Central writes that the interim tag on Lindsey Hunter as the Suns head coach will remain for the rest of the season. GM Lon Babby says that the team will wait until the summer to determine Hunter's future.
- Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State suffered a sprain in his right wrist during the team's exit from the NCAA tournament today, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo. Though Smart struggled during the game, one scout maintained that the 6'4" guard is a top 5 prospect and would be "crazy" to not declare for the draft this year (Twitter link). ESPN's Chad Ford tweeted that Smart is still not a lock to leave and is contemplating a return to school next year.
- In an ESPN Insider article, Ford says that University of Miami guard Shane Larkin will not make a decision about his future until after the team's season is officially over.
- Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston talks about how rookie center Fab Melo has "come back to earth" a bit after posting up monster numbers in the D-League earlier this year. Though still raw, there is hope that the Celtics' center can use his time in the NBDL to improve his footwork and rebounding.
- There are lingering questions about Richard Hamilton being able to return to action for the Bulls this season, notes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. With regard to the veteran shooting guard's back problems, coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters: "It’s not clearing up right now, so we have to wait.’’
- As for Derrick Rose, Sam Smith of Bulls.com says that the waiting game continues as the superstar point guard continues to fuel speculation about his return.
- Former Suns front office GM Steve Kerr says that while a return to management is unlikely, he would consider returning to basketball as a college coach (Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports).
Odds & Ends: Bird, Dwight, Kerr, Shaw
- According to a series of tweets by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis star, Pacers owner Herb Simon hopes that Larry Bird will continue to work with the franchise in some capacity if Bird decides to step down as president, and that no meeting has been arranged between the two yet.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel believes that Dwight Howard must align himself with a winning team in order to repair his tarnished image and should therefore expand his list of preferred trade destinations. Also, Schmitz briefly discusses the idea of Steve Kerr and Brian Shaw joining the Magic as GM and head coach respectively. When recently asked about the GM vacancy, Kerr asserted that he is currently happy with his job as a TNT analyst, although the Magic are expected to still make inquiries. Shaw would accept the head coaching opportunity in a heartbeat, according to Schmitz.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld presents a list of this year's top-shooting free agents. Ray Allen, Jason Terry, Steve Novak, and Randy Foye were listed as some of the top unrestricted free agents who displayed solid three-point shooting percentages along with a high volume of attempts this year.
- Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press writes that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is confident in the team's chances to make the playoffs next season. Taylor also said that the team is "going to try" the free agent market.
Shaq Not Interested In Magic GM Position
After a report surfaced last night suggesting Shaquille O'Neal would speak to the Magic about their general manager opening, today's discussion centered on whether the possibility was realistic and whether the former MVP would make a good executive. Shaq rendered that speculation moot this afternoon, however, announcing in a statement that he isn't interested in the position, according to Sekou Smith of NBA.com.
"When I first heard about the vacancy for the Orlando Magic general manager position, I was clearly intrigued." O'Neal said in the statement. "I was drafted by the Magic, I have a great love for the franchise, and I have made the city of Orlando my home. Additionally, I have great admiration and respect for the DeVos family. However, this is not a job I have an interest in pursuing. I feel very fortunate to be with TNT and to have the best job in sports. I look forward to many more years with Charles, Kenny and E.J. I wish the best for the Magic and I am confident that they will select a great GM and coach."
With O'Neal out of the running, the Magic will look elsewhere for their next GM, though Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the new general manager may not necessarily be in charge of basketball operations. Orlando may restructure their basketball operations department, team CEO Alex Martins told Robbins.
Another potential candidate for an executive position, Steve Kerr, said on a conference call today that he hasn't been contacted by the Magic and has no interest in a front office position for now, tweets Robbins.