Knicks: Everything From Here On Out Is On Phil Jackson

After completing an overhaul on the Knicks roster after dumping J.R. Smith, everything from here on out is on Phil Jackson

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Out with the old, in with the new. From here on out, everything that the New York Knicks accomplish, or fail to, is on Phil Jackson.

With the recent trade of J.R. Smith — and Iman Shumpert — the only players that are on the books next season for the Knicks are Carmelo Anthony, which Jackson re-signed this past summer, and Jose Calderon, who Jackson traded for in the offseason. And there’s no guarantee that he’ll last on the roster by the end of the season. Something tells me that Jackson isn’t done dealing, and flipping Calderon at the NBA trade deadline could be an option.

Tim Hardaway Jr has a team option for next season, but that decision will ultimately be made by Jackson, too.

In summary, everything that the Knicks are going to be from this point forward is going to be the doing of Jackson. Just the way he envisioned when he took the job less than a year ago.

He cleaned house mighty fast. It’s now time that he finally gets to work.

All the spring cleaning that was needed to be done, has now been done. There’s no more excuses of a bad roster, or trying to restore the damage that past front office’s dug the Knicks into. Jackson finally has a clean slate in New York.

And that, above anything else that has happened this season, is something that Melo, and Knicks fans, should be excited about.

"[via Anthony: Faith in Phil Jackson — ESPN New York]“I’ve got to trust in what’s happening. I’ve got to trust in the plan that they’re trying to put in place,” Anthony said."

The Knicks have finally waved the white flag. This era of mediocrity for the Knicks is over. This roster simply did not work, which should’ve come as a surprise to no one. They now have an opportunity to put their last 20-plus years of sadness behind them.

All that’s left for New York to do is build up. They’ve trimmed all the unnecessary meat. They’ve nearly left only bone.

But the Knicks are still far from the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and even the Cleveland Cavaliers of the Eastern Conference. Not to mention how far they’re from the giants of the Western Conference.

Let’s remind ourselves that the Knicks are 5-32. In the East. The worst team in the NBA, which includes a team that is TRYING to lose. The Knicks aren’t, and still have a worse record.

The honeymoon phase is over. The laughs have been had. The coffee cake has been put away. It’s time to rebuild.

This team is bad, and it’s probably going to get worse this season before it even begins to get a smidge better. Nevertheless, the Knicks are finally on the right track. I can firmly say that without a smirk off the side of my mouth.

It’s been a long time coming.

Phil Jackson has completed the easy part. He’s blown up the Knicks horrible roster. Now his job really begins. The honeymoon phase is over. The laughs have been had. The coffee cake has been put away. It’s time to rebuild.

Something that should’ve been done a long time ago. Jackson is officially on the clock, and that’s something that everyone in the Knicks organization should be excited about.

Next: How the Sixers have used this season to create optimism