New York Knicks: 5 questions on Phil Jackson’s departure
Did Phil Do A Bad Job?
It seems comical to ask this question in the midst of the past several months.
If we’re talking about bringing stability to an organization in desperate need of it and creating a culture conducive to sustained winning, the answer is clear: Phil failed, and he failed spectacularly.
However, if we’re just talking about the roster, and the three major ways of changing it, the answer isn’t as clear.
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The Draft
The best thing Jackson has going for him is his draft record. Selecting Porzingis may have been at the urging of longtime Phil confidant Clarence Gaines, but Jackson gets credit for pulling the trigger, especially with others clamoring for Justise Winslow or Emmanuel Mudiay.
Jackson also acquired the pick used to draft Willy Hernangomez in the second round. As a result, the Knicks join the Sixers as the only teams in the league to have a representative on the All-Rookie First Team in each of the last two years.
Trades
Jackson’s record on trades is less kind. He developed a habit of selling low on players who he believed were detrimental to the team’s culture. Tyson Chandler, JR Smith and Iman Shumpert were all shipped out for minimal return (and in Chandler’s case, brought back Jose Calderon, who turned out to be an onerous contract)
The Derrick Rose trade has become more of a wash than anything else, speaking strictly about the players involved, although it was a direct precursor to two separate disasters.
First, it signaled a change in philosophy to a win-now a approach which was clearly misguided. Second, it led directly to the signing of Joakim Noah, who Jackson has said on record was brought aboard in part because of how well he played with Rose during their time together in Chicago.
Free Agency
Noah’s contract, of course, has turned into an immovable albatross.
It not only showed poor player evaluation, but a misjudgment of his own roster. Hernangomez and Kyle O’Quinn would have been just fine manning the middle this year, with Porzingis filling in here and there. Signing a center to further impede KP’s time at the five also showed a complete miscalculation of the way the NBA is trending. Bigger is only better if it comes with shooting and switchy defense.
Other than Noah, Jackson’s signings have actually been a plus for his tenure. Courtney Lee’s deal is a fair one and he should remain a useful rotation piece over the life of the contract. O’Quinn is one of the few bigs in the league signed for a below-market rate. Lance Thomas, despite an injury-plagued season, is a defense-first glue guy that winning teams need.
Unfortunately, Jackson’s free agency book isn’t complete without mentioning the one move that most directly led to his undoing: handing Carmelo Anthony a no-trade clause.