"I did a great job last year, shedding [contracts] to put us in a position where we have this flexibility,” Phil Jackson said Tuesday.

In an earlier interview with The New York Times, Jackson said he deserved a vote for executive of the year.

Some Knicks fans might have an issue with how Jackson has portrayed his first year as team president. The Knicks finished with a franchise-low 17 wins and suffered through losing streaks of 16 and 10 games.

Jackson took credit for shedding contracts, but he inherited most of the contracts that are coming off the Knicks’ books this summer. He did move J.R. Smith – and his 2016 player option – in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Jackson eschewed Raymond Felton’s 2016 player option in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks.

But Jackson also added Jose Calderon’s contract via the same trade. Calderon is scheduled to make $15.1 million over the next two seasons.

The Knicks project to have approximately $26 million in cap space this summer. Jackson hopes to use that cap space -- and the team's high draft pick -- to turn things around. The Knicks will pick fourth Thursday night.

The Knicks are “listening” to but not “soliciting” trade offers for the No. 4 pick, Jackson said. He believes there is a “small” chance New York will deal the pick.

“We’re looking for mature kids that have a reasonable understanding of their skills and how they fit in and have had some successes in the past because of that,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Knicks are looking for a versatile defensive big man – either in free agency or the draft.

“We have great hopes that we can find somebody out there that has that ability,” Jackson said. “The draft has a couple of guys that have that capability to show that, and free agency does.”

He added that the Knicks are also trying to obtain a second-round pick.

After the players are drafted and the cap space is filled, Jackson hopes to field a team that can compete in the Eastern Conference.

“I do think that this team does have to be competitive and back into a competitive zone where we're back out there competing every night for 48 minutes,” Jackson said. “That's something we're attempting to do, and then everything will work the way it's supposed to work, and I think when you have trainable athletes that comes quicker.”

“We’re looking for mature kids that have a reasonable understanding of their skills and how they fit in and have had some successes in the past because of that,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Knicks are looking for a versatile defensive big man – either in free agency or the draft.

“We have great hopes that we can find somebody out there that has that ability,” Jackson said. “The draft has a couple of guys that have that capability to show that, and free agency does.”

He added that the Knicks are also trying to obtain a second-round pick.

Still wants a mature big that can defend but is also versatile and he wants a 2nd rd pick. He mentioned a couple of guys and i'm thinking at #4 he's looking at WCS or Kaminksy unless Philly passes on Russell.

nixluva wrote:I could care less about his egotistic statements. I think this bit is the most important part of what he said.

“We’re looking for mature kids that have a reasonable understanding of their skills and how they fit in and have had some successes in the past because of that,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Knicks are looking for a versatile defensive big man – either in free agency or the draft.

“We have great hopes that we can find somebody out there that has that ability,” Jackson said. “The draft has a couple of guys that have that capability to show that, and free agency does.”

He added that the Knicks are also trying to obtain a second-round pick.

Still wants a mature big that can defend but is also versatile and he wants a 2nd rd pick. He mentioned a couple of guys and i'm thinking at #4 he's looking at WCS or Kaminksy unless Philly passes on Russell.

It's more delusional than egotistical...If he sat on his hands and JR opted out like he did, we would have more cap space today...

holfresh wrote:

nixluva wrote:I could care less about his egotistic statements. I think this bit is the most important part of what he said.

“We’re looking for mature kids that have a reasonable understanding of their skills and how they fit in and have had some successes in the past because of that,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Knicks are looking for a versatile defensive big man – either in free agency or the draft.

“We have great hopes that we can find somebody out there that has that ability,” Jackson said. “The draft has a couple of guys that have that capability to show that, and free agency does.”

He added that the Knicks are also trying to obtain a second-round pick.

Still wants a mature big that can defend but is also versatile and he wants a 2nd rd pick. He mentioned a couple of guys and i'm thinking at #4 he's looking at WCS or Kaminksy unless Philly passes on Russell.

It's more delusional than egotistical...If he sat on his hands and JR opted out like he did, we would have more cap space today...

None of that really matters. We're about to draft a player for the future for this team and head right into Free Agency. I no longer give a crap about this past season. What's most important is what Phil does over the next few weeks.

nixluva wrote:

holfresh wrote:

nixluva wrote:I could care less about his egotistic statements. I think this bit is the most important part of what he said.

“We’re looking for mature kids that have a reasonable understanding of their skills and how they fit in and have had some successes in the past because of that,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Knicks are looking for a versatile defensive big man – either in free agency or the draft.

“We have great hopes that we can find somebody out there that has that ability,” Jackson said. “The draft has a couple of guys that have that capability to show that, and free agency does.”

He added that the Knicks are also trying to obtain a second-round pick.

Still wants a mature big that can defend but is also versatile and he wants a 2nd rd pick. He mentioned a couple of guys and i'm thinking at #4 he's looking at WCS or Kaminksy unless Philly passes on Russell.

It's more delusional than egotistical...If he sat on his hands and JR opted out like he did, we would have more cap space today...

We couldn't take that chance that JR would opt out after a completely horrid year with the Knicks. He was able to at least regain some value in Cleveland. I doubt that would have happened if he stayed here.

None of that really matters. We're about to draft a player for the future for this team and head right into Free Agency. I no longer give a crap about this past season. What's most important is what Phil does over the next few weeks.

To me it sounds like some are almost expecting a bad result. Why I don't know but that's the vide I get from some fans and most definitely the media. We know what he'd like to do with the roster and if he's successful that should lead to an improved roster. He wants a team full of skilled and smart team players. There's nothing funny or off base about that.

Please get off twitter and trolling talents we would have interest in acquiring with not needed opinions that could be the difference in acquiring future TOP Tier talents, especially with Durant being a UFA and a SHOOTER! In which I believe was the main reason we were willing to give Derek Fisher more money than Kerr without hesitation...
Kerr was obviosuly ready and well prepared while Fisher was in it for the money and was not ready and prepared to be a HEAD COACH

While Kerr has experience as a GM, years of experience with HOF coaches and talents with all different type of ALL STARS and a ROLE PLAYER that is extremely SMART and able to push the right buttons and motivate his team, along with acquiring a staff that he has a vision of coaching, while Phil Jackson put together his coaching staff for Fisher...
I believe we should look to acquire many other development coaches such as

Rasheed Wallace/Horry/Horace Grant

Jermaine Oneil maybe Bynum

Ron Harper/Billups

Pippen/Battier/Kukoc

Peja/Kapono as shooting coaches

and

well known/established trainers with similiar skill sets that we want with talents/young players we acquire to make up for Fisher lack of experience