The New York Knicks have to decide whether to keep Phil Jackson as President, or move in a new direction.
Imagine that a new President is elected to office. He has a decorated past, starting as a soldier serving in multiple conflicts, earning multiple awards and rising through the ranks with speed. Upon retirement from the military, he starts his own business, which soon becomes a Fortune 500 company. Politics are up next, and he wins a Senate race in a landslide, then distinguishes himself by spearheading a number of bipartisan bills that better the nation. He is elected President, and the nation quivers in excitement for what their new leader will accomplish.
The new President starts appointing his former squadmates from the military to important military positions, from Secretary of State to Chief of Staff. Many of his inner circle from his company fill other positions, and multiple staff members from his time as a Senator are fitted into roles. As Vice President, he had appointed a bright young junior senator from his home district. Every major position in his government was filled by his “circle” of friends and coworkers.
And things did not go well. While things did not fall apart, they likewise did not get better, and the President’s approval ratings dipped. Other former members of his military squad became involved in politics, and most flamed out amidst scandal or ineptitude. None were re-elected. As the new cycle approached, the question being discussed across the nation was this: should the President be given another term?
The New York Knicks have to be asking the same question in regards to Phil Jackson. The winningest coach in NBA history has an incomplete report card as an executive. His arrival in New York was met with excitement and hope, but this season’s playoff hopes probably flamed out with the firing of head coach Derek Fisher on Monday. Jackson attempted to explain his decision by delving into the realm of psychology, drawing in help from various psychologists to show that a successful NBA team needs certain things, and Fisher wasn’t the man to meet those needs. The Zen master spoke of a hierarchy of human needs and transformational leadership, but what he failed to realize was that the problem was not in Derek Fisher’s lack of self-actualization. It’s Phil Jackson’s own nepotism that’s weighing down the Knicks’ future.
The fact of the matter is that Phil Jackson, for all of his personal success as a coach, has shown no ability to pass on that success to others. Derek Fisher, hand-picked by Phil after winning five title, won less than 30 percent of his games as New York’s coach, and newly installed interim coach Kurt Rambis – a former assistant coach to Jackson – won less than 28 percent. Jim Cleamons, Bill Cartwright, and Frank Hamlen all won less than 32 percent after coming from Phil’s bench. By comparison, Brian Shaw’s terrible tenure in Denver looks almost successful with a 39 percent winning percentage. In fact, the only person associated with Jackson to officially coach a team to a winning record is Steve Kerr – the same Steve Kerr who turned down the Knicks job to coach the Warriors, and whose coaching seems to be influenced more by Gregg Popovich and Mike D’Antoni than Jackson.
That won’t stop Phil from going back to the well of his former players and assistants. He made it completely clear that his next hire as a coach would be someone with whom he already had a former relationship. When asked about whether the Knicks would continue to run the Triangle, his cryptic answer also suggested the affirmative. Phil views his system on a higher-than-basketball plane — the Triangle is the basketball equivalent of dwelling on a spiritual level, and indeed that playing in the Triangle makes you a better man off the court. If Phil stays as the President of Basketball Operations, then the list of potential coaches looks something like the guest list at Lakers reunions. And that could be a problem.
How Things Stand
The New York Knicks are 23-32 entering the All Star Break, losers of six straight and 10 of 11 games. To mount a playoff push, the 12th-place Knicks would need to pass four teams and hold off the Milwaukee Bucks, who sit a half game back of New York. The Knicks have not been consistently bad, however, winning eight of twelve directly before this nosedive, including going 5-1 against teams currently in the East playoffs. This team has run hot and cold more than any other across the association.
Most of the roster is filled with fairly paid veteran role players, from Aaron Afflalo and Robin Lopez to Lance Thomas and Derrick Williams. Carmelo Anthony has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury, but is having a solid year and is representing the Big Apple at the All Star Game Sunday. The true revelation has been Latvian rookie Kristaps Porzingis, he of the massive putback dunks and singularly focused rap videos. Porzingis leads all rookies in blocked shots, and comes in second or third in points, rebounds, and total three-pointers made. New York’s hope for a brighter future rests on his lanky shoulders.
New York’s assets mostly dry up after that. They have a couple of young players in Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway, but neither has shown enough potential to generate value. They do not own the rights to either of their picks this year, nor do they have any future first rounders coming their way. As the cap jumps almost twenty million next summer, the Knicks should have around twenty-two million in space, and more if Afflalo and Williams execute their player options to re-join a rich market.
Steps to Take
#1: Respectfully ask President Phil Jackson to step down – There is no denying that Phil was a phenomenal coach, one of the best in NBA history (deciding between Pop, Auerbach, Riley, and Phil is a duty I would not wish to have). He also has not been terrible as President of the Knicks; they have refrained from jettisoning draft picks, signed solid veteran talent at good prices, and drafted a legitimate star in Porzingis. But the Triangle as a stand-alone system does not work in the modern NBA, and Phil refuses to open himself up to new ideas. Some have reported that Fisher’s willingness to mix in other elements such as the pick and roll led to his dismissal as coach. Whether or not that’s true, Jackson views the Triangle as a spiritual experience, and will go down with that ship. In addition, there is no one out there from Phil’s tree to hire as a coach with a modicum of success in their career. The lone exception would be Luke Walton, whose success came as the substitute coach for a historically good team. And would Luke’s tutelage under Kerr – and use of elements from a variety of offensive systems – cause his early dismissal by Phil a short ways down the road? The Knicks need to pursue a road with more options, and Jackson is set in his ways. He needs to go.
#2: Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – hire a coach simply to chase a free agent – Rumors are floating around the Internet that the Knicks could hire coach Scott Brooks in hopes of attracting 2016 free agent Kevin Durant, or 2017 free agent Russell Westbrook (or perhaps 2017 free agent Nick Collison). Similar rumors have drifted in about hiring Lionel Hollins for a similar reason, attracting 2016 free agent Mike Conley. This is a poor idea. Not only are the odds of acquiring one of the few stars on the market slim, but there are 14 other guys on the team that need the best coach for them. If that person is Brooks or Hollins, then great. But hiring a coach just to chase a player is a dumb idea. Similar to trading valuable draft assets for a chance at signing Wesley Matthews, or signing aging center Tyson Chandler to make a run at LaMarcus Aldridge. Incredibly short-sighted moves that are hurting both teams involved.
#3: Hire the man who most wants the job, who also happens to be the best on the market – Tom Thibodeau has made it known that he would love to coach the Knicks; he referred to it as his “dream job” and fits what New York should be looking for on multiple levels. For one, he has a history in New York, serving as an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy for seven seasons. Thibs is also a huge fan of Carmelo’s, raving about him on Team USA and making a strong push to sign him in free agency two years ago. Porzingis could blossom into a two-way star under Thibodeau’s tutelage, and this Knicks team could raise its defense to a level not seen in many a year.
#4: Don’t rush to trade Melo, but don’t hang up the phone either – With the blossoming of Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks have a decision to make. Do they offload Anthony to get assets back and make a serious run once Porzingis is closer to his prime? Or do they hang onto their aging star and let Porzingis grow beside him? Both sides have merit, especially if a decent return was coming for Anthony. The right package for Carmelo could be best for the Knicks – a combination of draft picks and young talent that would be coming into their prime alongside Porzingis – but it may not materialize on the trade market for a 31-year old forward with chronic health issues. If that is the case, Anthony provides a natural mentor to Porzingis, and gets to stay in the city he and his wife love.
#5: Request meetings with Conley and Durant, but don’t neglect other free agents just to hope – With long shots at either of the two stars, the Knicks should look for market inefficiencies. They may find one right at the start of free agency, while many teams with cap space are hoping to take a swing at Durant. Valuable players could be available at reasonable prices. As the player pool narrows and the cap space stays plentiful, more and more money will be dished out. Striking first may be the best strategy this offseason.
#6: Be patient – It’s understandable; the city of New York has been without an NBA title for many years. But impatiently chasing a championship in the near future has hamstrung this team multiple times, from Bargnani to Eddy Curry. Taking a deep breath, stepping back, and staying the course will help this team more than perhaps any of the above advice. Porzingis is the real deal. Give it time, try to put the best pieces around him, and let his work ethic and growth guide this team towards victory.
Conclusion
The New York Knicks are not in a terrible situation. After this season they own all of their own first rounders, and under current CBA rules Porzingis is unlikely to go anywhere for another eight years. The window with Porzingis in his prime is wide open, and while very few of the players currently on the roster will be a part of the next New York contender, their contracts are not unmovable nor burdensome. If they can decide on whether they stick with Phil or kindly show him the door, that will inform the rest of their moves going forward. My advice is to cut ties with Jackson, hire a real coach, and start winning games. A new President who hires men based on skill and experience rather than friendship is probably a better fit for a team, and moving past Jackson a bright future could await this team.
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