LOS ANGELES – Knicks president Phil Jackson said he staged a successful meeting on this road trip with Carmelo Anthony to assure him of their future and is still evaluating interim coach Kurt Rambis, but gave a positive review, saying Rambis is still “capable” of hanging onto the job for next season.And Jackson delivered one of the highlight moments of his 30-minute press gathering Friday at Staples Center when asked if he will fulfill his five-year contract amid speculation he could exercise his opt-out next March at the 3-year anniversary and head back to Los Angeles.
Jackson said he’s “in it to win it.’’
“I’m in LA right now,’’ said Jackson, who has a home in Playa Del Rey. “I’m enjoying it. I rode my bike yesterday. This is another part of my life. [But] the energy I have is directed toward turning this team around. It’s taken my full effort and so far it’s been a challenge. I’m still in it. And I’m in it to win it.’’
Jackson, speaking after the Knicks shootaround before they face the Clippers, said unequivocally he still sees Anthony as a cornerstone to the franchise. But if the Knicks’ wavering superstar ever wants to leave, “It’s in his lap.” However, Jackson said he doesn’t believe Anthony wants to go, based on their talk.
“We had a conversation,’’ Jackson said. “We had some time on this trip to talk. We went through all the things — the disappointment. He sees the potential that we have. He asked questions on where we’re going. We discussed it.
“You guys know Melo. Sometimes you got to solicit things out of Carmelo. My conversation [this week], I didn’t. He came out and asked questions. I think engagement was important. And he was engaged. There’s never been any other discussion [other than him wanting in].”
Anthony has a no-trade clause so even if Jackson wanted to deal him, he can’t.
“It’s entirely up to Carmelo,’’ Jackson said. “He has it in his contract. It’s part of our agreement with him. If you want to leave, you have the decision to leave. We don’t have that. That’s the contract we negotiated with him. It’s in his lap.
“But we like a lot of what he played at this year. I think he got disappointed at some point and things happen. I’ve seen the ball move better a lot of times. Not as many holds. Sometimes he feels he needs to take the game over because we’re starting to fall behind by double digits. I’m trying to say stick to the program. There’s hope there. He’s got to see that.’’
Jackson isn’t happy with the Rambis results — the Knicks are 4-8 since the coaching change — but Jackson seems overjoyed about the rapport the two of them share daily, giving the Zen Master more input into the process. That could bode well for Rambis’ future as Jackson detailed the pair’s history, dating to 2001 when Jackson took over the Lakers, and served as another subtle strike against Derek Fisher.
“He knows the ins and outs,’’ Jackson said. “What has pleased me, we have relationship where he’ll call up and say, ‘What do you think about that game or a substitution pattern? Or at the end of the Boston game, I need to know.’ We have a relationship that’s much more tight. Having tried to create autonomy for Derek separated me from the direct contact.”
Jackson said GM Steve Mills conversed more with Fisher than he does with Rambis. But that doesn’t mean Rambis will be back, though it did seem the Zen Master was trying to sell the notion.
“We have to see growth for next season,’’ Jackson said. “I have to see if this team moves or doesn’t move with what goes on [the rest of the] season. I think he’s perfectly capable of doing that. We talked many times over the past four, five years about the obvious record created behind his coaching in Minnesota [that] puts a black mark on his coaching ability. He’s got a way of handling players. He’s relaxed but has ability to keep them focused on the important parts of it. We’ll see how it goes.’’
The Knicks have $18 million on cap room for this offseason, but could add more if Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams opt out of their contracts. Jackson said it’s no secret what they need – backcourt help — but he’s not “obsessed’’ with adding an elite point guard because of the triangle system.
Jackson acknowledged starting point guard Jose Calderon is “entering the latter part of his career,’’ and even mentioned the soon-to-be-signed Tony Wroten as someone to consider.
“My idea of chasing a point guard where it becomes just an obsession isn’t necessary,’’ Jackson said. “It’s not necessary. We can play the game without that. But we still need good performers.
“Everybody’s going to be flush with money. It’s going to be a seller’s [player’s] market. We have a definite idea how to help this team. I don’t think they’re secrets or mysteries. We’re just going to do just fine in free agency.”
Jackson said he’s not sure if “the market will provide enough money for more than one” important free agent.
“We’d like to have more than one and like to keep some of our guys who will be free agents,’’ Jackson said.
3/11/2016 5:46 PM
