Fear And Loathing In The Big Apple .... Phil Not Thrilled W/ New Events

What is Dolan up to, in bringing back Thomas to coach the "Girls" / and maybe something more down the road?


Report: Phil Jackson ‘not happy’ about Isiah Thomas’ return to work at MSG
Brett Pollakoff


May 15, 2015, 7:45 PM EDT


AP
Isiah Thomas was named president of the WNBA’s New York Liberty recently, in a move that immediately called into question Knicks owner James Dolan’s intentions.

Thomas, of course, was at one time both president and head coach of the Knicks, but was ousted from both positions in 2008 after a jury ruled that he sexually harassed a former team executive who was improperly fired for complaining about the unwanted advances.

There have been rumors that Dolan and Isiah have remained close, and that Thomas has consistently advised Dolan on basketball matters. While his current post only deals with the WNBA, Phil Jackson is reportedly less than pleased with the return of Thomas to the Madison Square Garden offices.

From Frank Isola of the New York Daily News:

James Dolan’s decision to bring Isiah Thomas back to Madison Square Garden does not sit well with Dolan’s highest paid basketball executive: Phil Jackson.

Jackson, according to a team source, has expressed concern over Thomas’ presence at the Garden, further fueling speculation over Jackson’s future with the Knicks and whether Thomas could be in line to eventually replace Jackson as Knicks president.

“He’s not happy about it but what can he do about it,” said one Garden official, who requested anonymity. “This is just the start of it.”

Jackson should be concerned, but his five-year, $60 million contract says that his worry should only go so far.

Phil was hired to turn the franchise around, and make it a formidable and consistent playoff contender. Year one of the rebuild was a predictable disaster, as Jackson jettisoned all valuable players in order to bottom out for a high lottery pick, while clearing as much cap space as possible at the same time.

Of course, if Jackson should falter in years two and three of his deal, the Knicks may look to go in another direction. Thomas has long been a friend and confidant of Dolan’s, so his moving back into his former role once Jackson eventually vacates it wouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but it would create all kinds of chaos and outrage among both fans of the Knicks, as well as the local media at large.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....rn-to-work-at-msg/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

Here's an honest question though, real. If Phil were advising somehow with the Lakers assuming they could find a spot for him to do that, what area(s) do you see that could happen where it would be useful? Player evaluation? Seems like we have that covered really well now especially with Ryan West and Mitch (Jesse Buss too?). And in that area where did Phil always place top priority? As Sky used to say it was always for his "Precious" ...... players that could fit best in the Triangle.

 

You want Phil back as the team shrink?

JUST KIDDING! I understand what you're saying.

 

Also to add to what @therealdeal said, you want him helping recruit players. When you're pitching a FA and Phil is there even if it's to shake a hand and sit there in silence while wearing some of his rings. The Lakers don't have a shortage of greats to parade in front of FAs. But many of them grew up with MJs Bulls and Kobe/Shaq Lakers.

Get Phil on the payroll and then figure out things for him to do.

As far as the NY situation, can they be that dumb? Even if Phil strikes out on every move he makes in NY, he'll still be better than Isiah was there. Did they forget the cap hell he put them in for years?

 

Does Isiah Thomas have compromising pictures of James Dolan somewhere?

 

Would "Stabber" as (Kingsama ?) refers to him (I think that's who from Phil's book days about Kobe) put the knife into Fish like this is suggesting? I kinda doubt it. He loves his triangle too much? And Thibs would not tolerate having to learn and teach it. As the Big Apple churns ......

Are the Knicks about to fire Derek Fisher to hire Tom Thibodeau?
WRITTEN BY TREVOR CONLEY POSTED: 05/28/2015, 01:15PM

The five season tenure of Tom Thibodeau as the Chicago Bulls head coach is over, but could he be heading to the Knicks for the 2016 NBA season.

In the five years that Thibs spent with the Bulls he complied a 255-139 regular season record, and a 23-28 playoff record.

NBA fans clamoring for Tom Thibodeau to join their team
Accrording to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans are the two teams that could looking into hiring Thibs.



However, could a team like the Knicks be making the move to hire Thibs. ProBasketballTalk reports that an unexpected NBA team will fire their head coach within the next couple of day, via Chris Sheridan.



While, many are shocked that the Bulls fired Thibs it wasn’t all that unexpected. For the past few years that have been severaldifferentreports connecting Thibs to the Knicks. But that would mean the Knicks would have to fire current head coach Derek Fisher, who lead a very limited team during rebuilding to a 17-65 regular season record.

Knicks fans seem to agree this would be the right move to make in hiring Thibs:




















The Knicks are not the only potential team to fire their coach, but if they were even thinking about making the move for Thibodeau they might have to act fast before their shot it up.


http://nyc.suntimes.com/new-york-knicks/7/86/207489/knicks-fire-derek-fisher-hire-tom-thibodeau

 

Raise your hand if you detect a little bit of satisfaction in Jerry talking about how it's not going all that easy in NY for Phil in his first front office job.



Jerry West has some serious doubts about Phil Jackson
By Marc Berman

June 8, 2015 | 4:25pm




Phil Jackson, Jerry West Photo: Andrew Theodorakis, Getty Images
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OAKLAND – NBA legend Jerry West, a Warriors board member/consultant, tossed a couple of subtle digs at Knicks president Phil Jackson on Sunday.

West pointed out Jackson’s trades have boosted two other clubs, said it will be easier for Pat Riley to turn around the Heat than Jackson the Knicks and wondered if the Zen Master will attract free agents.

“It’s a little easier for Pat,’’ West said in an interview on Sirius XM Bleacher Report Radio’s “NBA Sunday Tip” co-hosted by Howard Beck and Ethan Skolnick.

“He’s had a lot more experience in both sides in coaching and now in the front office. With Phil, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens back there. They didn’t have the kind of year I’m sure they wanted to have. Everyone in the league feels like they made two trades that made helped Cleveland tremendously and one that helped Dallas this year.’’

West worked with Jackson with the Lakers, but had a well-documented cool relationship. He made a reference to Jackson’s $60 million contract and past deals and noted the teams with which he won titles had “enormous talent.’’ West said the Knicks need new blood and admitted it’s no guarantee Jackson will hit paydirt with his $27 million of cap space.

“He wants to have a team that will have his identity on it,’’ West said. “A lot of people want to be critical. I wouldn’t be so critical because they need a fresh infusion of talent there and also people that will be able to play the way they want to play.

“Phil was fortunate. He’s made a lot of money in this league. Even though he’s making a lot of money today, he wants to win. He’s a competitor. It will remain to be seen whether they’ll be able to turn their fortunes around. They have a lot of money to spend on free agents, but a lot of times people don’t want to play certain places for different reasons.’’

West added Jackson has never faced this situation despite winning 11 coaching titles.

“What he’s done there would be easy to criticize,’’ West said. “He understood that team would be pretty good, but not at the level he’s won. If you’re not successful in getting free agents it will set their progress back. It’s a completely different challenge for him. He’s had teams with enormous talent. He’s coached them brilliantly and won championships, but it’s a different challenge for him.’’

The Post reported Friday that West went to a private workout session of projected top-5 pick Emmanuel Mudiay in Los Angeles last week. West told The Post Sunday at Oracle Arena he’s not allowed to discuss him but offered, “he’s a very nice kid and very talented, very talented.’’

http://nypost.com/2015/06/08/jerry-west-has-some-serious-doubts-about-phil-jackson/