The latest from Phil

T

tiger0330

Legend
Some clues on how the Knicks look next year.

- Some speculation that Phil might not stay the entirety of his contract. He said he's committed to staying, so expect he'll be here next year at the very least.

- Knicks will not spend their FA dollars on a top PG like Mike Conley. Phil said we don't need a top flight PG, he won without one with the Bulls and Lakers so I would not expect Mike Conley on the team. Tony Wroten may be that PG and maybe they sign Chandler Parsons or Evan Turner, I don't see him pursuing Dwight Howard.

Interesting that he said they haven't signed him, I thought they had, Phil said we may get to see him play before the season ends so that is something to keep fans interested.

- Rambis may be the head coach next season even if his end of season record isn't stellar. He's his long time associate and fit's the 2 criteria he's looking for in his coach. The triangle and the ability to communicate with him. To tell you the truth, listening to the guy when he's miked up for the games, he sounds better than DFish and as good as any other coach as far as having a presence and leading the guys. People are down on Rambis and I've seen very few positives written about him but don't be surprised if he's coaching this team next season.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ork-knicks-point-guard-situation-other-topics

Phil Jackson discusses state of Knicks


Ian Begley
ESPN Staff Writer



LOS ANGELES -- New York Knicks president Phil Jackson said he won't be obsessed with finding a star point guard, in part because the triangle offense hasn't required one.

"Chasing a point guard, where it becomes just an obsession, isn't necessary. It's not necessary. We can play the game without that," Jackson said Friday at Staples Center.

Jackson pointed to the success that the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers had running the triangle; neither franchise relied on a ball-dominant point guard during his tenures as coach.

"We went to a two-guard format, and I think we were successful at it," he said. "I think we caught a lot of people in the league by surprise because of the way we played. So it works, and we know it works."

The Knicks will have at least $18 million to spend in free agency this summer. If Jackson's statements Friday hold true, it seems unlikely they will chase an elite free-agent point guard such as Mike Conley or Rajon Rondo. (It's worth noting that Rondo said last month that he's unlikely to consider the Knicks in free agency because of the triangle.)

Jackson noted that the Knicks will try to develop their guards from within. He mentioned Tony Wroten, whom they expect to sign in the coming days, as one player who could add depth at the position.

"Our process is going on [and] it's a little underground, a little beneath the surface, but this is one of our desires, that we have to have a penetrator and we have to have somebody that can handle those roles," he said.

Jackson also said interim coach Kurt Rambis is "perfectly capable" of coaching the team permanently. He noted that Rambis' record as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves (32-132) puts a "black mark on his coaching ability at first sight." But he added that Rambis, with whom he has a close relationship, has "a way of handling players. He's relaxed but he has the ability to keep them focused on the important parts of it."

Jackson said part of his evaluation of Rambis will be based on how the Knicks finish the season. The club is 4-8 since Rambis took over for the fired Derek Fisher last month. The team is 27-39 overall.

Jackson also addressed his future with the Knicks

There had been some speculation that he could leave New York before the end of his five-year contract. Jackson's deal, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, contains an opt-out clause after the 2016-17 season. But the team president said he's fully committed to the Knicks and fulfilling his contract.

"Well, I'm in L.A. right now [and] I'm enjoying it," Jackson said with a smile. "But this is another part of my life. The energy that I have is directed toward turning this team around, and it's taken my full effort so far. It's been a challenge and I'm still in it and I'm in it to win it, so to speak."

Jackson revealed that he recently spoke to star forward Carmelo Anthony about the future of the franchise. Jackson said he believes Anthony, 31, is committed to New York, which is something the All-Star himself has said recently.

"He sees the potential that we have," Jackson said. "He had questions about where we're going. So we discussed it."

Of prized rookie Kristaps Porzingis, Jackson said, "Our phenom, our kid that has surprised everybody, hit the wall and it's been tough for him in the process."

Porzingis has been productive lately, but his numbers have dipped some from the first half of the season. He started the year with 18 double-doubles but hasn't recorded one in a month.
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B

Broadway

All Star
I mentioned the Wroten contract situation they were still discussing how many more nickels to give him Tig. I also said the point guard pos was an absolute non factor in this system, hence a major contributing factor as to why we passed on Mudiay. lol @ Melo wanting Rondo and him pulling up the high booster chair at negotiating table campaigning to bring him here, forget that wackadocious idea.

Could care less about Rambis he's a non factor. I think most bball aficionados know there are better coaches out there, this speaks more to Phil's stubbornness. #WELP
 
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mafra

mafra

Legend
Sounds like Phil's ego won't let him leave NYK unless the ship is sailing in the right direction.

Easy to say his team's didn't need a PG... Bc last I checked they each had arguably the top 2 SG in NBA history (MJ & Kobe).

When your SG is Aaron Affalo... Well, it helps having a PG. Also, nobody is demanding we get the best PG available... Just please get is a PG who ranks in the top 20 in the NBA.

I wonder if DeRozan will be a big target? We could go large ball and sign Howard and Horford... Lol.
 
H

htr10

GM
Sure, sure, everyone says you don't need a good PG to run the triangle offense. What about defense? Doesn't matter what offense you are running, you can't let the other team destroy you defensively at the point of attack on every play.

Is Conley the best available defensive free agent PG that is starter quality? I ask that as an honest question.
 
T

tiger0330

Legend
mafra said:
Sounds like Phil's ego won't let him leave NYK unless the ship is sailing in the right direction.

Easy to say his team's didn't need a PG... Bc last I checked they each had arguably the top 2 SG in NBA history (MJ & Kobe).

When your SG is Aaron Affalo... Well, it helps having a PG. Also, nobody is demanding we get the best PG available... Just please get is a PG who ranks in the top 20 in the NBA.

I wonder if DeRozan will be a big target? We could go large ball and sign Howard and Horford... Lol.
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Knicks could use DeRozan but I don't see Toronto not keeping DeRozan. They can pay him more than anyone and he likes Toronto.
 
H

htr10

GM
I just did some more research on Mike Conley. If we are going to pursue him, it should not be because of what he can do for our offense. He seems like exactly the kind of defensive PG that could turn us around next season. If PJ does not even entertain pursuing Conley and has us come into next season with the same NBA worst backcourt rotation, it should be the end of him in NY.
 
J

jimkcchief88

All Star
Phil's Zen Master bs sounds good when you are winning....when you are losing it sounds downright retarded. I hope htr10 is right and PJAx stubborn refusal to realize this is a guards league now end his stay in NY. Stay in LA Phil....Fire everybody....blow it up....start over:(
 
T

tiger0330

Legend
What Conley gets paid will be interesting and the Knicks might not be able to afford him with only 18M in cap space available if AA and DWill pick up their options. His max contract is ~26M so if Memphis offers him that the Knicks won't get him.

I don't know if anyone gives him 26M, he's never been an All Star or averaged 20ppg but even if the Grizz offer him a 5yr 100M deal the Knicks won't be able to match that.
 
T

tiger0330

Legend
Contrary to what I read somewhere else Phil said Wroten may not play this season so he can rehab his knee. First chance we may get to see him is summer league but that's not much to see how useful Wroten will be and whether he impacts the Knicks FA decision. The timing of signing him baffles me, I got a feeling signing him may not happen.
 
H

htr10

GM
tiger0330 said:
Contrary to what I read somewhere else Phil said Wroten may not play this season so he can rehab his knee. First chance we may get to see him is summer league but that's not much to see how useful Wroten will be and whether he impacts the Knicks FA decision. The timing of signing him baffles me, I got a feeling signing him may not happen.
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I see no problem with kicking the tires on Wroten so long as he does not represent the entirety of PJ's plan to address our backcourt. Even if healthy, I don't think Wroten will generate enough interest from other teams that we will be priced out, but you never know, I also didn't think we would get priced out of Maurice Ndour at the end of last year's Summer League play, for all the good that situation did anyone this season.
 
H

htr10

GM
tiger0330 said:
What Conley gets paid will be interesting and the Knicks might not be able to afford him with only 18M in cap space available if AA and DWill pick up their options. His max contract is ~26M so if Memphis offers him that the Knicks won't get him.

I don't know if anyone gives him 26M, he's never been an All Star or averaged 20ppg but even if the Grizz offer him a 5yr 100M deal the Knicks won't be able to match that.
Click to expand...

I just went back and read a blurb regarding how Stan Van Gundy said that PJ has done a good job and got us positioned for a big summer in free agency. In that blurb, it says that if Derrick Williams declines his option and we stretch Jose Calderon, our cap space jumps all the way up from 18 million to 27.5 million.

Also, just realized that Mike Conley now has an injured Achilles and could be out for 3 to 4 weeks, possibly more. Definitely not what he wanted in his big contract year.
 
B

Broadway

All Star
htr10 said:
I just went back and read a blurb regarding how Stan Van Gundy said that PJ has done a good job and got us positioned for a big summer in free agency. In that blurb, it says that if Derrick Williams declines his option and we stretch Jose Calderon, our cap space jumps all the way up from 18 million to 27.5 million.

Also, just realized that Mike Conley now has an injured Achilles and could be out for 3 to 4 weeks, possibly more. Definitely not what he wanted in his big contract year.
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Conley will be taken care of by Memphis because of what he's meant to them his whole time there. He will get his money. Mike Conley nor the Grizzlies are worried about his free agency TRUST THAT!

https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmnba/we-never-tried-to-trade-mike-conley-and-expect-him-to-stay-in-memphis-ed-stefanski
 
T

tiger0330

Legend
htr10 said:
I just went back and read a blurb regarding how Stan Van Gundy said that PJ has done a good job and got us positioned for a big summer in free agency. In that blurb, it says that if Derrick Williams declines his option and we stretch Jose Calderon, our cap space jumps all the way up from 18 million to 27.5 million.

Also, just realized that Mike Conley now has an injured Achilles and could be out for 3 to 4 weeks, possibly more. Definitely not what he wanted in his big contract year.
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I forgot about stretching JC. His contract can be stretched over 3 years, so the Knicks can get back about 2.5M if they waive him, add DWill 5M for a total of 7.5M more in cap space if DWill opts out. I'm not sure about DWill opting out but waiving JC seems likely.
 
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H

htr10

GM
Broadway said:
Conley will be taken care of by Memphis because of what he's meant to them his whole time there. He will get his money. Mike Conley nor the Grizzlies are worried about his free agency TRUST THAT!

https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmnba/we-never-tried-to-trade-mike-conley-and-expect-him-to-stay-in-memphis-ed-stefanski
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I agree with you that Conley will almost certainly stay in Memphis next season. However, it's worth noting that Memphis will be paying March Gasol 20 million plus next season and he is out injured with some degree of uncertainty to his level of play when he comes back. Now, Memphis has Mike Conley who is going to miss possibly a month or more with injury and they may have to make him their 2nd 20 million dollar man for next season. Then, add-in the fact that Randolph only has 1 year left on his deal and then they will have to take care of him in 2 offseasons. That's a lot of money invested in some very good players who are not enough on their own to even get you home court in the 1st round of the playoffs. Memphis will be an interesting situation to watch over the next year or so.
 
K

Kiyaman

Legend
In the 2014 offseason Phil Jackson moves graded a big F .. for FAILURE!
In the 2015 offseason Phil Jackson moves graded a F .. for FAILURE!
In the 2016 offseason Phil Jackson moves will grade a ????????????????????
 
P

paris401

Starter
Kiyaman said:
In the 2014 offseason Phil Jackson moves graded a big F .. for FAILURE!
In the 2015 offseason Phil Jackson moves graded a F .. for FAILURE!
In the 2016 offseason Phil Jackson moves will grade a ????????????????????
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I think for 14 , we have to give him a pass, for 15 he should get 1/2 a pass- for 2016, all bets are off...

a great coach does not always make for a great...or even good GM... phil the clock is tickin..
 
K

Kiyaman

Legend
paris401 said:
I think for 14 , we have to give him a pass, for 15 he should get 1/2 a pass- for 2016, all bets are off...

a great coach does not always make for a great...or even good GM... phil the clock is tickin..
Click to expand...

One would think a great Zen-Master head-coach turned GM would know the difference between a winning-coach from a LOSER-coach
Phil Jackson record as Knicks president stands at .. 49-115 ...thas a FAILING record for two seasons
 
P

paris401

Starter
Kiyaman said:
One would think a great Zen-Master head-coach turned GM would know the difference between a winning-coach from a LOSER-coach
Phil Jackson record as Knicks president stands at .. 49-115 ...thas a FAILING record for two seasons
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yesss.. but u can't fault him for the hand he was dealt... but his time at the charity line is over....
 
The Dragon

The Dragon

Benchwarmer
You know, i always felt that Kia is a bit unrealistic, and he always demand too much from everybody.......... but you know what, i feel there is nothing wrong with expecting the best from your team with all the money flaying around..... maybe Kia is the one with the best opinion, maybe giving passes to people in this organization for whatever reason is the wrong thing to do....
 
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