The triangle, the presence of Carmelo Anthony, and the past success that Phil Jackson‘s staff has enjoyed will be the selling points for the Knicks in free agency this summer, Jackson said today to reporters, including Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link). Of course, that staff didn’t have much success this season, a 17-65 debacle for New York, and Jackson acknowledged that he doesn’t expect to suddenly win a title next year, notes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). Instead, the Zen Master is shooting for a playoff berth and a winning record, as Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal relays (Twitter link). Here’s more from his chat about his plans for achieving that:
- The Knicks will look for defenders and a player who can get to the basket, Jackson said, as Begley notes in a pair of tweets. Jackson also suggested that the team sorely needs a rim-protecting big man, Herring adds (on Twitter).
- Jackson suggested he would be more likely to trade New York’s first-round pick if it falls to fifth, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post (Twitter link). There’s a 12.3% chance the Knicks end up with the fifth pick after the lottery, as the odds show. Should the Knicks keep their pick, a big man will be the priority, Jackson said, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Jackson also indicated that he likes the depth of the draft through the top 15 prospects, as Zagoria passes along (Twitter link).
- Regardless of how the draft shakes out, Jackson doesn’t expect to end up with an immediate game-changer, as Herring relays (Twitter link). “[Our pick] isnt going to step on the court immediately and be an MVP,” Jackson said. “So a lot of our contingencies are on free agency. They have to be.”
- The Knicks may have to “sit on our hands” for a year as their top draft pick develops, Jackson suggested, as Zagoria chronicles in a full piece. “So we’re certainly not going to walk away from a situation like that even if it takes the fact that we might have to sit on our hands for a year in the growth process and watch Carmelo come back off an injury and then regenerate for another year after this, provide more support as we go forward,” Jackson said.
- Jackson seemed to convey a measure of displeasure about Anthony’s decision to play in the All-Star Game despite the ailing knee that kept him out the rest of the season, as Herring relays (Twitter links). Anthony “pushed himself” to play, Jackson said, according to Herring. “[Him playing in the All-Star Game] wasn’t that important to us, but it was important to him,” Jackson said.
- Jackson responded affirmatively when asked if he’d be OK with merely setting the foundation for the Knicks to win a championship rather than winning a title during his time with the team, Herring tweets. Jackson just completed the first year of a five-year contract, and there have been hints that he might not stay the entire term.
Yeah trade the pick for Brandon Knight and we’ll work things out from there!
You must be smoking that Oooohwwwwweeeeeeeeeee! Brandon Knight? I heard a rumor that the Kings may dangle Damarcus Cousins & Ike(Method Man)Turner over here mentioning Brandon Knight, LOL. The Triangle looks for more of a larger than normal PG who can sit in a corner, hit a 3, & stand his ground defensively. Knight is a up & down, dribble heavy/penetration PG. I say 1-4 we draft in this order #1 KAT(Towns) #2 Okafor #3 Dangelo Russell PG & #4 Emanuel Muddiay PG, #5 Trade the Winslow pick for Durant or Westbrook(yeah right).
…if it’s #5……Trade down! Deep 1st round…trade for a body and flip with a team and get the #12 for example and get Grant for ND….or Jakari Johnson with a high #2…..lots of possibilities. Need to plug and upgrade so many spots….
They need a floor spacing PG, a 3 and D wing player, and a rim protecting big. You need to play with pace in today’s NBA unless you have an elite defense, and even still, you want to get out and run as much as possible. Play Melo at the 4 and surround him with shooters and athletes. Play an offense that operates through ball movement. You can put Melo at so many spots on the floor, and he has to make a quicker move than he has in the past. Playing through him in the post should also help them score in the half court. A PG that can take some pressure off Melo, run pick&rolls, and space the floor should help pick up the pace, and help them get into their offense easier. With shooters, you can pass it around and get the best shot. You can definitely build a team around Melo, but you have to do it with the right players, and in today’s style NBA, the triangle offense isnt something you can do as a primary system.
Jackson was a coach that got the best form super stars, he has never been a GM and wi do a bad job until they pay him off and he leaves NY for LA
shut the fuck up, this was his first year. Criticism of him should start after this off-season , NOT NOW!
trade pick for one of the stud restricted f.a.’s like Butler (just dreaming) that are or will be too expensive for their current team
better have a good year next year cause they don’t have a 1st round pick in ’16
The most important thing the Knicks need is a rim protector and one that can score the ball and pass than you add few free agents and keep your draft pick.