Sir Charles in Charge
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New York Knicks: 5 questions on Phil Jackson’s departure

By Jonathan Macri

Dec 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson looks on during a stop in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson looks on during a stop in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) inspects the ball before a game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) inspects the ball before a game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Do We End Up Here If Jackson Never Gives Anthony a No-Trade?

This will be the great “What If?” of Jackson’s tenure with the New York Knicks.

It was his first major move as team president and the one that he could never escape.

The ramifications of Anthony’s no-trade first appeared around the February deadline in 2016. Kristaps Porzingis had already emerged as a star in the making, but the team had fired Derek Fisher following a 1-9 stretch and it was clear that the right move was to build for the future. The timing for an Anthony trade was perfect.

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Except Anthony’s list of preferred teams was so limited that it stunted the market and the teams he would OK a deal to never made a realistic offer, or he simply refused to waive the no-trade, depending on who you believe.

With a star on his last legs that refused to go anywhere, Jackson felt the need to try and win now. That led to the Rose trade, the Noah signing, and the disastrous 2016-17 season.

Jackson again revisited a Melo trade and again got nowhere. Boxed into a corner and feeling like he needed to get his triangle-resistant star off the team by any means necessary, he started dragging Anthony’s name through the mud.

This culminated in his year-end presser when he outright said Melo would be better off elsewhere. By that point, Porzingis had had enough. Jackson did the unthinkable, put KP on the block, and began discussing a buyout for Anthony. And here we are.

Conflicted

In the end, Knicks fans wake up today and face the following grim reality: New York is the only organization in professional sports that can make a single move which both stops them from being a laughingstock while also ensuring that they remain nothing but.

Must Read: The impact the Chris Paul trade will have on the Clippers and Rockets

Say this for the Zen Master: he leaves behind a roster with some legitimate young talent, a superstar in the making, and only one (very) bloated contract.

And hey, if nothing else, it could be worse…

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