A Wednesday report from The Vertical suggested that Phil Jackson‘s apparent efforts to push Carmelo Anthony out of New York have only strengthened the forward’s resolve to stay with the Knicks, and Marc Berman of The New York Post has heard something similar. According to Berman’s source, Anthony has told confidants that he may try to wait out Jackson, who isn’t necessarily assured of a long-term stay with the team. While Anthony has no desire to leave New York, Jackson has an opt-out clause on his contract later this year.
“He still feels it’s his team and still loves it here,” Berman’s source said of Anthony.
It’s been a busy and eventful week in New York, so let’s round up a few more Knicks-related notes:
- One veteran NBA executive tells Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders that if the Knicks want Anthony to waive his no-trade clause, the best approach may be to start trading other veterans on the team, since Carmelo has said he’s more committed to his teammates than the front office. That same executive also wondered why the team is devaluing Anthony by making the standoff between the two sides so public.
- Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated identifies five potential landing spots for Anthony if he decides to waive his NTC. In addition to usual suspects like the Clippers and Celtics, Spears names the Wizards, Raptors, and Hawks. However, Spears hears from a source that Atlanta doesn’t appear interested in making a major move before the deadline.
- After being arrested at the Knicks game on Wednesday night, former NBA forward Charles Oakley told his side of the story, claiming in an interview that he was simply trying to watch the game when he was told he’d have to leave (link via Justin Terranova of The New York Post). After Oakley denied the team’s assertion that he was the instigator in the situation, the Knicks issued a second statement on the matter (via Twitter), calling Oakley’s account “pure fiction.”
- “There are dozens of security staff, employees, and NYPD that witnessed Oakley’s abusive behavior,” the Knicks said in their statement this afternoon. Even if that’s accurate, it’s not a great look for the club to continue attacking one of its most beloved former players, and it may further discourage free agents from joining the franchise, as Reggie Miller tweets. We noted on Thursday that agents believe Jackson’s behavior will sour future free agents on the idea of joining the Knicks.
- In the wake of this week’s incidents, Ian Begley of ESPN.com writes that the Knicks’ circus continues to find new ways to surprise and amaze.
This happens when the Knicks gave $12 millions per year to an executive that criticizes his own players.
As a Knicks fan, this is shameful..
Phil is the absolute worst. makes Isiah look competent.
Jackson is a clown. Get him out before he makes it any worse if that’s possible
Jackson knows the game (he’s accurate in his assessment of Melo), but lacks the qualities to be a GM (a player personnel guy keeps his assessments to himself, particularly if they are negative about one of his own players).
But Melo is getting what he deserves. A true star (or any kind of mentally tough player) would counter Jackson’s nonsense with personal excellence (and team leadership) on the court, letting that show that not only does he have a resolve to remain here, but its for a purpose. Not Melo, he’s just going to give the same half-a– effort he always does, and hide behind his right to stay here.
One thing is clear. This team cannot begin rebuilding until both are gone.
I disagree about keeping assessments to himself. Melo has been begged by every coach he ever had to play like a man and he refuses. Phil tried to push him and knew the only solution was to keep pushing until he grew up or got out.
It’s still the best plan.
In a perfect world you keep it to yourself but this isn’t such a world. When you have a bully like melo trying to take over the business you need to do more than be the nice guy and walk away.
Do you really think Melo was going to adjust his play or accept a trade if Phil was super nice to him? That strikes me as pretty naive.
Difference between a coach and a GM. I’m not a fan of Phil’s mind/media games in either case (particularly with a guy as stupid as Melo because he won’t even get it), but they have served him well as a coach at times. A coach deals day to day with players as people (complicated relationship). A GM deals with them as assets or liabilities (straight forward relationship, or it should be).
Phil was **** ***** in his first trade as Knick GM. The template for that trade was set when Phil felt the need (prior to the draft) to talk negatively about Chandler as a locker room guy (nobody ever questioned that about him before) and that he would like to move the Felton and Smith contracts since they were the only ones that (via player options) were on the books beyond the coming season. Dallas initiated the trade talks based on what they heard (a chance to get Chandler back on the cheap). The deal never made sense for the Knicks. They moved Felton’s contract (which was tiny and irrelevant cap-wise really), but took on a much worse one in Calderon, and few other bad ones they needed to pay future 2nd round picks to shed. Larkin’s rookie option was declined before the following season (so he was never an asset). The Knicks got one of the worst contracts in the NBA and a 2nd round pick for one of the best rim protectors in the league with an expiring deal. Some months into the season, with the competition for rim protectors high as it usually is, the Cavs paid two 1st rounders for Mozgov.
Oh yeah. Melo is committed to his team mates. That’s why he doesn’t pass or play defense.
He likes NY and likes thinking he’s the king. He needs to have someone make it clear he no longer has any say about what the team does.
I sure hope Dolan is smart enough to make sure Phil outlasts Melo even if that means extending Phil’s deal.
Trade Jackson, Dolan and spike lee and keep melo and Oakley
Jackson was a below average player. I have been a life long Knicks fan and saw him play regularly. A very unorthodox and underwhelming bench player. As a coach, with the personnel he had on both the Bulls and Lakers, he could have ran the triangle, the circle, the rectangle, the square or the octagon and those players would have won. Right place at the right time. As a GM, he is a huge bust and proof that this man is not or never was very talented at anything. He is horrible at decision making and communication to both his players, coaches and the media. Cramming the triangle down your coaches throat doesn’t help either.
Don’t let the door hit you on your triangle butt on your way out!!!
Useless and Not a Capable GM…
Ruining the Knicks franchise,
Goodbye Phil
Pentagon :-) octagon would be pretty hard with 5 players..
Desrespecting Oak like that(!) , trying to push a player out when Phil Jackson himself gave both the big$ and the no trade clause along with such a bad attitude as a GM…what a circus…and all this while aquiring Noah(!!) and time bomb Derrick Rose while previously getting rid of solid players like Smith,Felton,Shumpert,Chandler…
Oh yeah he brought Calderon and Bargniani;)
Knicks should publicly apologise to Oak,give him a free pass for life,honour him and then fire the worst GM in clubs history.Then talk with the players and bench the ones that dont play good incl Anthony if he doesnt budge,the year cant be worse so why not.
Melo & Noah for Mozgov & Deng & Black lol!
Worst GM in franchise history? Not even in the top 5 for that title. We have all our 1st round picks going forward (when he took over we had only 1 in the next 3 drafts), we’ll have cap space this year (when he took over we had none and were deep into the luxury tax), and we have a 21 year old ascending star, along with some other pretty good and cheap young ascending players (when he took over he had Melo, unsigned, and looking for a max deal with no trade clause and trade kicker).
He made some amateur moves starting out, but he did not trade for Barngani.
Love to see him leave, but this isn’t Isiah Thomas or Layton or close.