http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2025630-report-james-dolan-stopped-steve-mills-from-firing-mike-woodson

New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson has been firmly planted on the coaching hot seat throughout 2013-14, but his job security to this point can be tied to owner James Dolan.

Although the Knicks' notorious owner has “willingly and gratefully” surrendered the reins to newly minted president of basketball operations Phil Jackson, per Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News, he reportedly overruled general manager Steve Mills’ desire to relieve Woodson of his coaching duties.

Per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: "Mills, according to a source, was prepared to make a coaching change on several occasions but didn’t either because the Knicks went on a winning streak or because he was overruled by Garden chairman James Dolan."

Woodson led the Knicks to an 18-6 record after taking over for Mike D’Antoni during the 2011-12 season. NY’s basketball success continued last season to the tune of a 54-win campaign, but the Knicks eventually fell to the Indiana Pacers, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Chuck Burton
Now, at 33-45, the Knicks are fighting just to earn a playoff berth. They’re two games back of the eighth-seed Atlanta Hawks with four games to play.

Firing Woodson would have caused a major shakeup within the organization, but there’s a chance that personnel move could have triggered a turnaround in New York—much like the one Woodson himself sparked two seasons ago.

According to Isola, however, Mills was not provided the authority to make that decision under the team’s owner. Dolan claims that Jackson will be responsible for all the basketball decisions moving forward, and whether or not that blueprint includes Mills is up for debate.

Mills hasn’t been part of the big picture for long, having replaced executive vice president and general manager Glen Grunwald in September. Despite that, Mills believes he can work well beside Jackson, per Isola: "We’re going to have the relationships in place with players and agents, and you couple that with Phil’s credibility from a championship standpoint and coaching and what he’s done to build teams, I think together we can do something special."

Jackson may ultimately decide to bring in his own personal choice as GM, but that decision will have to wait until what will be a busy 2014 offseason. At this juncture, the top priority for Jackson and Co. is re-signing All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. Without him, the Knicks will be faced with a long and painful rebuilding process.

Mills might have been right to remove woodson as the team is likely to move forward with PHil wanting his own guy. At the same time, it would look bad on Phil to jusst fire him and install Herb, or other bench coach as there might not have really worked. Besides, the circus has to stop at some time and knicks need to look like a stable deliberate management than the crazy short term thinkers we have been.

If PHil and Dolan think stability, even in a period of transition is the best idea, I can do that too!

No bid deal here in my book!

This was the time to fire Woody. Loss to the worst team in the NBA, 5th straight loss, and about half the season left to play. That was the time to send Woody packing for anyone.

Vmart wrote:Not firing Woody was a good move. The team isn't very good and nothing good would have come from getting a new coach in mid season. All we would have gotten was more excuses of how we need a training camp together and whatever excuse to the dog eat my game plan.

Been there done that. The Knicks have a new president let him hire the coach that fits his style and system that he wants to implement. I think now there is a better grasp of the thing this team needs going forward a lot was revealed by players this year. We now know how to go forward and what players can stay and go. Good move not firing Woody in mid season.

Could this be a string of sound decisions made by the owner?!

GustavBahler wrote:Isola also mentioned that Jackson was quoted as saying that the team wont have the same close relationship with agents and agencies as in the past. Its allegedly what Mills brings to the table and can't stop bragging about. My guess is that he will be eased out the door by the 2015 season.

mreinman wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Isola also mentioned that Jackson was quoted as saying that the team wont have the same close relationship with agents and agencies as in the past. Its allegedly what Mills brings to the table and can't stop bragging about. My guess is that he will be eased out the door by the 2015 season.

That "bragging" part is quite interesting. Is that really his M.O.?

Its what he does when he tries to justify being rehired.

holfresh wrote:Hey, maybe we can hire coaches going forward on a series one year deals..That way when they have a good season, they stay and when they have a sub-par season, we fire them immediately...

Why not just pay them per victory? Day to day?