Woodson’s contract not guaranteed past 2013-14
By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 4:22 AM, May 30, 2013
Posted: 1:10 AM, May 30, 2013
With Rangers coach John Tortorella out at the Garden, Mike Woodson could be next if the Knicks don’t get out of the second round next season.

According to an NBA source, Woodson has only one more fully guaranteed year left on his pact. The final year of the pact — 2014-15 — is not guaranteed. The three-year deal signed Memorial Day weekend last year is worth $10.5 million, the source said.

Some league observers were surprised Woodson didn’t get a guaranteed third year. Woodson fired his longtime agent, the late Joe Glass, and hired the superagency CAA, which represents a handful of Knicks.

Glass, who had been Larry Brown’s agent, had warred with Knicks owner James Dolan during Brown’s messy exit and multiple reports suggested the owner made Woodson change agents. (Glass died in November.)

Woodson’s guaranteed portion of the contract coincides with Carmelo Anthony’s opt-out clause next summer. The Knicks can give Anthony a contract extension no earlier than mid-February.

Woodson was in no danger of losing his job after the Knicks bowed out in the second round to the Pacers 12 days ago.

Knicks GM Glen Grunwald, a classmate of Woodson’s at Indiana, said after the season Woodson was “my coach of the year.’’ Woodson finished third in the Coach of the Year voting.

The unpredictable Dolan could guarantee the third year at any point.

Woodson’s 54-28 regular-season record — coupled with his 18-6 interim stint in 2012 — gives him an overall record of 72-34 — good for the franchise’s highest coaching winning percentage (.679). He also guided the Knicks to their first Atlantic Division title since 1993-94 with a roster that had J.R. Smith as the secondary scoring option.

However, the Knicks’ second-round flameout left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths, feeling Woodson didn’t make the proper adjustments to the rotation to combat Indiana’s size and the Knicks’ offensive struggles. Woodson has yet take a team out of the second round in his eight seasons as a head coach, including six years in Atlanta.

One league scout said Woodson is an excellent regular-season coach because he motivates his players to play defense every game, but his basic offense that contains a lot of isolation sets gets bogged down in a playoffs series when teams can prepare for it and make adjustments each game. The Knicks averaged 88 points in the 12 playoff games.

Woodson’s ultimate downfall in the playoffs was hitching his wagon to Smith and not letting go, even though Smith was slumping and bothered by a viral infection and fluid on his knee. His reluctance to go sooner with rookie Chris Copeland, try 3-point ace Steve Novak or stout rebounder Marcus Camby was puzz-ling.

Stuffing a rusty Amar’e Stoudemire into the rotation in the middle of the Indiana series also didn’t work, though that could have been a mandate from above because of his $100 million contract.

However, an argument can be made Woodson got the Knicks to overachieve during the regular season when they posted monster wins in San Antonio and Oklahoma City and beat Miami three of four times.

Woodson also has been a good company man, abiding by Dolan’s strict media policies. Dolan rewards good employees and that could play a big role in him returning for 2014-15 regardless of the Knicks’ advancement.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Read more: Woodson’s contract not guaranteed past 2013-14 - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/woodson_contract_not_guaranteed_QkKR7sf0rqqjXDjw0ZSkiJ#ixzz2UmGfcDtv

I'm sure Grunwald is going to make a significan't move to the roster this season despite his claims of just tweaking..

Can't rely on kidd
Can't rely on JR
Tyson is iffy
can't rely on Amare
prigs is a solid back up but his status is up in the air

There's a few things that wouldn't suprise me

Tyson involved in a trade
Shump involved in a trade
Amare involved in a trade
Kmart not resign

There's not much more woodson can do with this rosterm so sending him out there with minor tweaks won't get us a championship and most likely a 2nd or 3rd round exit..

Melo can dictate next coach as well Berman alludes to.

Phil Jax does not want to coach or so he says, but he wants to oversee a team and wants an equity stake.

MSG don't give out stakes. They are publically traded.
Riley wanted this and Miami was happy to do it.

Im thinking Jax wants to hire his coach and pick his players.

From all I can read, it sounds like the Seattle situation would have been his but I don't know if he waits until expansion happens. He shot down the Nets job offer saying he was done coaching. Brian Shaw is said to be a candidate with Hollins. Billy King is on record as saying he wants the triangle in the offense.

I can see him returning to the lakers to phuch with MDA's head. I can see him with the Nets over Billy King (despite the extension)and Brian Shaw.

Mostly I see him going back to the Lakers for obvious reaons.

nyk4ever wrote:i really wish phil jackson would have interest in coming here. give him whatever the hell he wants and let him do his thing.

haha. As if.

DurzoBlint wrote:

fishmike wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:i really wish phil jackson would have interest in coming here. give him whatever the hell he wants and let him do his thing.

so if Melo shot 35% in the playoffs with Phil Jackson would that mean its Phils fault also?

Not sure what Phil accomplishes as we clearly do not have a roster that can compete for a title. Playoffs OK. Zenmaster isnt hitting shots

Phil doesn't want to coach. He's on record as recently as today (hoopshype) saying he's not interested in coach but, wants a GM/President job along with TOTAL control. It explains (to me) why he's still out of work.

I wish the Knicks would give him that role and let Grunwald handle the cap or whatever it was he did before taking the reigns. Jackson would probably hire Brian Shaw and, while I like Woody, I think Shaw has been groomed to become great

SupremeCommander wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

fishmike wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:i really wish phil jackson would have interest in coming here. give him whatever the hell he wants and let him do his thing.

so if Melo shot 35% in the playoffs with Phil Jackson would that mean its Phils fault also?

Not sure what Phil accomplishes as we clearly do not have a roster that can compete for a title. Playoffs OK. Zenmaster isnt hitting shots

Phil doesn't want to coach. He's on record as recently as today (hoopshype) saying he's not interested in coach but, wants a GM/President job along with TOTAL control. It explains (to me) why he's still out of work.

I wish the Knicks would give him that role and let Grunwald handle the cap or whatever it was he did before taking the reigns. Jackson would probably hire Brian Shaw and, while I like Woody, I think Shaw has been groomed to become great

Phil likes to speak his mind. loves attention, is accomplished and is at times a bit "out there" but in a good way.

So why in the hell would a guy like that want to work in a place like MSG where censorship is a big deal? I have read Hansons group in Seattle wanted him to "build the culture". IN MSG, its a dysfunctional paranoia that dominates.

I think there was a time and place when Phil could have been a knick coach and eventually run the team. That has long passed.

If phil wants NY, the job in Brooklyn is his. Hate to say it, Nets have more assets to play with than the knicks if you want to come in and leave your mark.

Nalod wrote:

misterearl wrote:54-28

Let's not talk about incremental improvement this, and next, season.

Let's talk about firing him.

If your not taking steps forward, then your going backwards!

And dammit someone must be to blame!

If you go backwards, people get upset, and upset people don't buy tickets!

So an offering must be made to Rome! Woodsons head!!!!

And begin a Starphuch anew!

Absolutely.