CrushAlot wrote:A couple of things. I believe you said that Phil changed his mind about Rambis because of pressure from Melo and Dolan. I disagree with this. Melo has said he had nothing to do with the Phil's decision. Has anything that has happened since Phil has been in charge given you the idea that Melo has power in his decisions?

Yes, Melo demanded the coaching search be more extensive multiple times in the media. Multiple multiple times. There was a report leaked to the Post that Melo would not be happy with Rambis. Melo's claims came after multiple league reporters, including Marc Stein, said Phil was close to giving Rambis a multi-year extension - http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2016/4/6/11376032/every-reporter-on-earth-is-calling-kurt-rambis-the-preferred-choice

Do you think Berman just made this stuff up out of thin air? Notice Melo never denied it the way he denied Screamin' A Smith's report he didn't like KP:

The source stated Anthony believes Blatt, because of his vast international experience before joining the Cavaliers, would be better for 7-foot-3 Latvian phenom Kristaps Porzingis than interim coach Kurt Rambis.

The source said Anthony feels Blatt could develop Porzingis into an All-Star quicker with his international touch.

The source said Anthony likes and respects Rambis, but has reservations. Anthony has requested input but hasn't had contact with Jackson since exit meetings four weeks ago.

CrushAlot wrote:Also, Dolan was on tour during all of this.

According to an unnamed source, Dolan has a cell phone AND an email account. Unconfirmed though, so probably made up.

CrushAlot wrote:Did anyone know Hornacek was going to be the guy Phil went with?

Howard Beck mentioned it February, but even he was saying in April that it'd be Rambis, so I guess he was either making stuff up or a complete idiot.

Because Phil couldn't possibly have changed his mind.

crzymdups wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:A couple of things. I believe you said that Phil changed his mind about Rambis because of pressure from Melo and Dolan. I disagree with this. Melo has said he had nothing to do with the Phil's decision. Has anything that has happened since Phil has been in charge given you the idea that Melo has power in his decisions?

Yes, Melo demanded the coaching search be more extensive multiple times in the media. Multiple multiple times. There was a report leaked to the Post that Melo would not be happy with Rambis. Melo's claims came after multiple league reporters, including Marc Stein, said Phil was close to giving Rambis a multi-year extension - http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2016/4/6/11376032/every-reporter-on-earth-is-calling-kurt-rambis-the-preferred-choice

Do you think Berman just made this stuff up out of thin air? Notice Melo never denied it the way he denied Screamin' A Smith's report he didn't like KP:

The source stated Anthony believes Blatt, because of his vast international experience before joining the Cavaliers, would be better for 7-foot-3 Latvian phenom Kristaps Porzingis than interim coach Kurt Rambis.

The source said Anthony feels Blatt could develop Porzingis into an All-Star quicker with his international touch.

The source said Anthony likes and respects Rambis, but has reservations. Anthony has requested input but hasn't had contact with Jackson since exit meetings four weeks ago.

CrushAlot wrote:Also, Dolan was on tour during all of this.

According to an unnamed source, Dolan has a cell phone AND an email account. Unconfirmed though, so probably made up.

CrushAlot wrote:Did anyone know Hornacek was going to be the guy Phil went with?

Howard Beck mentioned it February, but even he was saying in April that it'd be Rambis, so I guess he was either making stuff up or a complete idiot.

Because Phil couldn't possibly have changed his mind.

The veteran forward didn’t address the coaching search Wednesday, but league sources with knowledge of Anthony's thinking said a report that stated he "likes" the idea of the Knicks hiring David Blatt is a gross exaggeration.

This isn’t to say that Anthony wouldn’t support a Blatt hire if the Knicks choose to go that route. But the league sources say Anthony hadn’t expressed his opinion on Blatt to anyone.

This could all just be coincidence, or it could be the various camps responding to each other publicly. The timing suggests something fishy (not to be confused with Fish-y (And, hey, you know who broke the story that Fisher got into an altercation with Matt Barnes? Marc Berman. I bet we'd all like to believe THAT was made up. Alas. Sometimes "sources" are sources. )).

This story sounds for all the world like someone from Dolan's camp leaking out info in Phil's direction that "hey buddy, if you are threatening to walk, we got a replacement in mind." I think that is how the Knicks work. I'm not saying I like it. I'm saying I've worked at a New York media company since 2002 and I recognize the tactic.

The decision on who becomes the next head coach of the New York Knicks could become a power struggle between Phil Jackson and James Dolan.

If Dolan makes a change at the top of the Knicks' organization, Masai Ujiri is believed to be a potential successor. Ujiri worked on the Carmelo Anthony trade when he worked for the Denver Nuggets and communicated directly with Dolan.

Ujiri also traded Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks and nearly also agreed upon a trade involving Kyle Lowry.

Ujiri was originally brought to Toronto by Tim Leiweke, former CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Leiweke has since left Toronto and has started a business with Dolan’s business acquaintance Irving Azoff, who was influential in bringing Jackson to the Knicks.

Ujiri is under contract for two more years so even if he wanted to leave Toronto there is no guarantee the Raptors would let him out of his deal.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241451/Knicks-Interested-In-Masai-Ujiri-If-Phil-Jackson-Leaves

I think there was intense discussion about the future of the organization in April. I think it led to Phil running that weird Triangle camp that we were told Melo went to at first and then told Melo did not go to. It led to a delayed coaching search. It may have led to Phil taking some time off for a road trip, supposedly to visit an ailing relative. All we know is after that road trip he started interviewing candidates not named Rambis or Mills' buddy Blatt.

I like the pick of Hornacek. But I think the road there was fascinating and a view into the conflicting agendas behind the scenes of the Knicks, one reason we continue to be a team of conflicting agendas that makes crazy moves. Remember when the Knicks traded for Andrea Bargnani and literally a week later Glen Grunwald magically quit? You think there wasn't strife behind the scenes then? This is the Knicks! This is why we're bad!

crzymdups wrote:The other thing that makes me believe that there was a sort of power struggle or at least heated debate at the top of the organization regarding the coaching search - the same day that the news came out that Rambis was "the preferred choice" of Phil Jackson from Marc Stein and Chris Herring and Frank Isola and Ian Begley all at once, there was a report that if Phil were to leave, Masai Ujiri would be a candidate to replace Phil, were he to leave or be fired.

This could all just be coincidence, or it could be the various camps responding to each other publicly. The timing suggests something fishy (not to be confused with Fish-y (And, hey, you know who broke the story that Fisher got into an altercation with Matt Barnes? Marc Berman. I bet we'd all like to believe THAT was made up. Alas. Sometimes "sources" are sources. )).

This story sounds for all the world like someone from Dolan's camp leaking out info in Phil's direction that "hey buddy, if you are threatening to walk, we got a replacement in mind." I think that is how the Knicks work. I'm not saying I like it. I'm saying I've worked at a New York media company since 2002 and I recognize the tactic.

The decision on who becomes the next head coach of the New York Knicks could become a power struggle between Phil Jackson and James Dolan.

If Dolan makes a change at the top of the Knicks' organization, Masai Ujiri is believed to be a potential successor. Ujiri worked on the Carmelo Anthony trade when he worked for the Denver Nuggets and communicated directly with Dolan.

Ujiri also traded Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks and nearly also agreed upon a trade involving Kyle Lowry.

Ujiri was originally brought to Toronto by Tim Leiweke, former CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Leiweke has since left Toronto and has started a business with Dolan’s business acquaintance Irving Azoff, who was influential in bringing Jackson to the Knicks.

Ujiri is under contract for two more years so even if he wanted to leave Toronto there is no guarantee the Raptors would let him out of his deal.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241451/Knicks-Interested-In-Masai-Ujiri-If-Phil-Jackson-Leaves

I think there was intense discussion about the future of the organization in April. I think it led to Phil running that weird Triangle camp that we were told Melo went to at first and then told Melo did not go to. It led to a delayed coaching search. It may have led to Phil taking some time off for a road trip, supposedly to visit an ailing relative. All we know is after that road trip he started interviewing candidates not named Rambis or Mills' buddy Blatt.

I like the pick of Hornacek. But I think the road there was fascinating and a view into the conflicting agendas behind the scenes of the Knicks, one reason we continue to be a team of conflicting agendas that makes crazy moves. Remember when the Knicks traded for Andrea Bargnani and literally a week later Glen Grunwald magically quit? You think there wasn't strife behind the scenes then? This is the Knicks! This is why we're bad!

The realgm wiretap is from Isola. The wiretap at least does not cite sources.

crzymdups wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:A couple of things. I believe you said that Phil changed his mind about Rambis because of pressure from Melo and Dolan. I disagree with this. Melo has said he had nothing to do with the Phil's decision. Has anything that has happened since Phil has been in charge given you the idea that Melo has power in his decisions?

Yes, Melo demanded the coaching search be more extensive multiple times in the media. Multiple multiple times. There was a report leaked to the Post that Melo would not be happy with Rambis. Melo's claims came after multiple league reporters, including Marc Stein, said Phil was close to giving Rambis a multi-year extension - http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2016/4/6/11376032/every-reporter-on-earth-is-calling-kurt-rambis-the-preferred-choice

Do you think Berman just made this stuff up out of thin air? Notice Melo never denied it the way he denied Screamin' A Smith's report he didn't like KP:

The source stated Anthony believes Blatt, because of his vast international experience before joining the Cavaliers, would be better for 7-foot-3 Latvian phenom Kristaps Porzingis than interim coach Kurt Rambis.

The source said Anthony feels Blatt could develop Porzingis into an All-Star quicker with his international touch.

The source said Anthony likes and respects Rambis, but has reservations. Anthony has requested input but hasn't had contact with Jackson since exit meetings four weeks ago.

CrushAlot wrote:Also, Dolan was on tour during all of this.

According to an unnamed source, Dolan has a cell phone AND an email account. Unconfirmed though, so probably made up.

CrushAlot wrote:Did anyone know Hornacek was going to be the guy Phil went with?

Howard Beck mentioned it February, but even he was saying in April that it'd be Rambis, so I guess he was either making stuff up or a complete idiot.

Because Phil couldn't possibly have changed his mind.

Again, you're going off of reports from people that make a living making stuff up to give themselves something to write about and give fans something to talk about. I've never seen anyone that believes so many rumors especially the ones from any new york media person who mostly live to make stuff up to make the Knicks look bad. SMDH...wake up man wake up.

crzymdups wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

The veteran forward didn’t address the coaching search Wednesday, but league sources with knowledge of Anthony's thinking said a report that stated he "likes" the idea of the Knicks hiring David Blatt is a gross exaggeration.

This isn’t to say that Anthony wouldn’t support a Blatt hire if the Knicks choose to go that route. But the league sources say Anthony hadn’t expressed his opinion on Blatt to anyone.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/64639/carmelo-anthony-ill-absolutely-play-for-knicks-in-2016-17No name to the source but I haven't seen an actual quote or interview from Melo.

Well. This is where *my personal theory* comes in. Typically Berman is known to leak the Knicks front office wishes. Obviously that article about Melo preffering Blatt over Rambis didn't come from Phil. Did it come from Mills? Mills, whose best friend is Blatt? I think it might have? I think Mills was strongly opposed to Rambis - and Mills is essentially the voice of Dolan.

That's just my theory and I have no quotes to back it up. But after that Melo/Rambis story leaked May 10th, Phil started meeting with other candidates... and Mills was reportedly at both meetings - with Vogel and Hornacek.

I do believe Phil wanted Rambis and Mills pushed to broaden the search. Mills was at the exit meetings. Melo was asking for a broader search. Mills has been known to cater to both Dolan and Melo.

It's just my read of the situation. We don't really know where Mills' influence ends and Phil's begins. Hornacek may well be an inspired choice. And it may well have been mainly Phil's idea. But we do know Mills has been at the exit interviews and at the coaching interviews every step of the way.

I don't know why it is so upsetting to people. But we have multiple reports from across the league April 7 saying Phil was nearing a multi-year extension with Rambis - http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2016/4/6/11376032/every-reporter-on-earth-is-calling-kurt-rambis-the-preferred-choice - and then a month later we have leaked reports that the players don't like Rambis in the Post and Phil starts interviewing other candidates.

I think he changed his mind and I think Mills was heavily involved. Whether or not it was the right move, time will tell. I find the Phil/Mills dynamic fascinating. I also do not buy that Phil made a fully autonomous decision here. He's supposedly grooming Mills to be his heir to the throne. I just find the whole thing very interesting. I'm not trying to upset anyone with it.

We know. lol

newyorker4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Again, you're going off of reports from people that make a living making stuff up to give themselves something to write about and give fans something to talk about. I've never seen anyone that believes so many rumors especially the ones from any new york media person who mostly live to make stuff up to make the Knicks look bad. SMDH...wake up man wake up.

I laid out a pretty clear case. The made up reports are the ones like KOQ to Boston that started this thread. Believe whatever you need to believe to get through the day.

Yes you laid out your case but it's all just assumptions but no facts. You do understand that right?? That everything that you've come up with about how you think stuff went down is just your assumptions right?

Yes. I wonder if you understand the same is true for your assumptions.

newyorker4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:Again, you're going off of reports from people that make a living making stuff up to give themselves something to write about and give fans something to talk about. I've never seen anyone that believes so many rumors especially the ones from any new york media person who mostly live to make stuff up to make the Knicks look bad. SMDH...wake up man wake up.

I laid out a pretty clear case. The made up reports are the ones like KOQ to Boston that started this thread. Believe whatever you need to believe to get through the day.

Yes you laid out your case but it's all just assumptions but no facts. You do understand that right?? That everything that you've come up with about how you think stuff went down is just your assumptions right?

If Phil hired Rambis I am sure Melo would have been a good soldier at least to start. However if Melo pushed for someone besides Rambis that is his right. I mean this is actually normal real world stuff. Melo is best performer on the roster. He doesn't make decisions but he is an important piece. He wants to be managed by someone he likes and is in synch with. Its that simple. If you work for a big company and you are a big producer you want to be managed by someone you are comfortable with, and you will lobby for certain people over others. But when it happens in the NBA those players are painted as toxic or having special privs or not being team guys. I don't know what the case was but I think Melo's non endorsement and comments about hoping we look around are enough in themselves to paint a pretty clear picture. Melo didn't want Rambis.

That being said Phil did the right thing to appease Melo. Not because he should, but because a happy dad-Melo is more valuable to this team than seeing Rambis as the head coach in spite of your team's best producer saying he doesn't like the guy. Sorry.. that's how the real world works. Melo led the team in points, rebs and assists, he embraced the system and was a leader for the players. When you produce people listen to you.