Phil Jackson lowballed Steve Kerr with his initial offer and didn't raise it until the Warriors were in the hunt, Marc Berman reports. Photo: Ron Antonelli

CHICAGO — No, Phil Jackson didn’t exactly throw money Steve Kerr’s way early on in the process of seeking a new Knicks head coach. By the time Jackson’s offer improved, it was too late.

The Post has learned Jackson’s initial offer to Kerr was a lowball of three years, $13.2 million. That offer stuck for more than a week before the Warriors got involved Tuesday. Kerr wound up agreeing to terms with Golden State on a five-year, $22 million contract — not the $25 million that was widely reported.

Had the Knicks originally offered Kerr five years, $22 million — $4.4 million a year — he probably would have closed the deal before Golden State could reenter the fray. Jackson only bumped the offer to four years in response to Golden State’s offer.

A source said Kerr wasn’t moving across the country for less money than the Warriors were offering. The Knicks have insisted Jackson, not owner James Dolan, handled the negotiations. Kerr never spoke to Dolan during the process, meeting with general manager Steve Mills and basketball operations director Jamie Mathews.

The Warriors had preferred Stan Van Gundy, who wound up in Detroit.

“I think Steve is a very bright guy who knows the game inside-out,’’ Van Gundy told The Post. “He’s very intelligent, got a great demeanor. There’s always adjustments when you go into a new job. He’ll have adjustments to make but he’s a bright guy.’’

A source said Jackson wants Tim Hardaway Jr. to play in the Las Vegas summer league despite his solid rookie season, in which he finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. Hardaway did well at last year’s Chicago combine, but still fell to No. 24 in the draft.

“I was proud of his whole season,’’ said his father, Tim Hardaway Sr., who was at the combine as a Heat scout. “He exceeded everyone’s expectations. I was very happy for him. He’s still learning, still has work to do.’’

Hardaway said of his son’s combine performance: “He shot the ball very well, went through skills very well. He improved his stock, but a lot of people didn’t know his basketball IQ and everything he could do, so it didn’t matter.’’

Kerr voted Hardaway first on his rookie ballot.

“I guess he thought had had a good enough season,’’ Hardaway said. Or Kerr thought he’d be coaching him.
New York Post

holfresh wrote:That's a lowball offer??..4.4 per for a first time head coach??...That's a legit offer in my opinion...

Absolutely a fair offer for a first time head coach. More than fair.

smackeddog wrote:At least we know going forward: Knicks over pay, the media blasts us for days for over paying. Don't over pay the media blasts us for days for 'losing out' and 'low balling'. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

smackeddog wrote:At least we know going forward: Knicks over pay, the media blasts us for days for over paying. Don't over pay the media blasts us for days for 'losing out' and 'low balling'. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The media has been ridiculous since the Phil Jackson hiring. The all out speculation reported as facts and lying done by the media thus far is an embarrassment. If it wasn't Phil Jackson, then fans would be in straight panic mode right now.

With all that said I am thrilled we are finally willing to draw lines in sand and set boundaries rather then just throwing money and overpaying for everything.

This is a very important omen set by Jackson for even his own protege.

My take was Kerr was enroute to NY and GS came in with Crazy money enough to back him out from negotiations and the whole family thing factored also.

JamesLin wrote:Papabear, you just want people to like Jimmy Dol like you do. Very lame excuse and lame math apparently. Jimmy Dol is behind all this Kerr drama. Stop posting useless articles like this please. Sorry, after reading your fake Knicks talking to Mark Jackson post made me think you're just trying to troll big time.

The article is legit....

http://nypost.com/2014/05/16/whyd-the-knicks-miss-out-on-steve-kerr-jax-was-cheap/