Luke Walton’s answer to Phil Jackson was thanks, but no thanks – at least for now.

According to sources, Jackson reached out to the Golden State assistant in a phone conversation recently, following through on his pledge to only speak to those in his circle – or is it triangle? – about their interest in coaching the Knicks. However, the Daily News learned that Walton told his former Lakers coach he wasn’t currently interested in the job.

It’s unclear if the two sides will talk again.

Whether or not this is an earnest effort from Jackson to find a replacement for his buddy Kurt Rambis is also unknown, but either way plucking Walton from the best team in the NBA was always viewed as a longshot.

Walton, who guided the Warriors to a 39-4 record while serving as an interim head coach this season, had already turned down an opportunity to join the Knicks staff under Derek Fisher. A job in the organization has only become less appealing with the team going 49-115 over the last two seasons.

Walton has been advised by others from Golden State to avoid the Knicks. His famous father, Bill Walton, is on the record saying Luke shouldn’t relocate.

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Of course, there’s always the type of Jim Dolan money that’s tough to turn down.

“I tell him, ‘Money can’t buy what you have,’” Bill Walton said recently. “Head-coaching jobs, they’re open for a reason. Those reasons don’t exist in Golden State.”

Phil Jackson insists on finding a head coach who will run the triangle.
SETH WENIG/AP
Phil Jackson insists on finding a head coach who will run the triangle.
Luke Walton, 36, won two championships under Jackson with the Lakers while running the triangle. However, the defending-champion Warriors use a different system and have been historically successful this season with a record 73 wins. Jackson reiterated last week that he will continue to use his offensive system in New York and will only interview candidates with whom he holds a personal relationship. As Jackson, the Knicks president, declared, he desires a “simpatico” relationship with his head coach.

Walton fits the bill but wasn’t interested at first inquiry. As a hot coaching prospect, there may be another opportunity opening up with the Lakers or he could be waiting for a chance to lead the Warriors. Steve Kerr has been dealing with health issues – specifically back problems -- that forced him to sit out more than half this season.

Jackson has declared Rambis as a candidate despite his 9-19 record as an interim coach this season. Jackson was happy with the way the Knicks had “an immersion in the triangle” under Rambis, who is 99 games under .500 as a head coach over 229 games.

“When Kurt started coaching the team they started executing (the triangle) with more structure,” Jackson said. “We saw some progress. But we have to make the next step.”

At the same time, Jackson said the Knicks were disjointed with Rambis at the helm.

“We didn’t have a group that really bonded together. I thought they came apart during the end of the season,” he said. “So we have to make changes, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rambis said he won’t be offended if Jackson interviews other candidates.

“He’s got to do what he’s got to do. That doesn’t bother me,” said Rambis, who allowed Jackson to be more involved than he was with Derek Fisher. “He’s got to do whatever’s best for the organization, period. Whatever he feels is best for the organization. That’s just the way I’ve always felt from a players’ standpoint, coaching, management, you’ve got to do what’s best for the organization. So whatever he feels is right, then that’s what he’s got to do and he’s got to go through that process and he’ll come to a conclusion at some point in time.”

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:maybe phil low balled him like he did with kerr

Kerr said he wasn't low balled. Besides this most likely was just a getting started phone call. Even if it's not Walton there are other options and Phil has more calls to make. Try not to orgasm with glee over something bad happening to the team! You are a very strange fan.

I'm strange? Me Gleeee? I am a rational fan. You are in lala land.

I love this team and I hate what we have become. I hoped that phil would come in and show us how smart he is but unfortunately, he has shown us so far that he was a great coach. Nothing more.

Being stuck on proving the triangle is obviously a problem that does not seem to be going over well around the league even if you try to make peaches out of it.

Kerr was low balled.

callmened wrote:but wait...did anyone seriously think he was coming here? we were all hoping to get him...just like were hoping kdurant comes to nyc. we all knew that wasn't happening right?

wait wait ... why would he (or anyone) not want to come here? Does he not know about phils 11 rings?

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:maybe phil low balled him like he did with kerr

Kerr said he wasn't low balled. Besides this most likely was just a getting started phone call. Even if it's not Walton there are other options and Phil has more calls to make. Try not to orgasm with glee over something bad happening to the team! You are a very strange fan.

I'm strange? Me Gleeee? I am a rational fan. You are in lala land.

I love this team and I hate what we have become. I hoped that phil would come in and show us how smart he is but unfortunately, he has shown us so far that he was a great coach. Nothing more.

Being stuck on proving the triangle is obviously a problem that does not seem to be going over well around the league even if you try to make peaches out of it.

Kerr was low balled.

OK! You say you hate what we've become after Phil revamped the D League team! He tore down the roster that was old and headed nowhere. He drafted a possible franchise center! He made smart FA moves last summer. No GM is 100% perfect on all moves. The team is getting younger and making progress. We have our 1st Rd picks going forward and we have cap space for free agents. The team is setup with a solid Frontcourt and only needs 2 guards to improve the starting unit.

Phil doesn't have to prove the Triangle works! That's a settled issue!!! 11 Titles and many more years of playoff basketball. SETTLED! The Spurs use a lot of Triangle and won 67 games. Thibs used a lot of Triangle and was winning games.

Forgive me if I don't agree with your take on things. The coaching issue is being addressed right now. What exactly is so wrong with where the team is headed?

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:maybe phil low balled him like he did with kerr

Kerr said he wasn't low balled. Besides this most likely was just a getting started phone call. Even if it's not Walton there are other options and Phil has more calls to make. Try not to orgasm with glee over something bad happening to the team! You are a very strange fan.

I'm strange? Me Gleeee? I am a rational fan. You are in lala land.

I love this team and I hate what we have become. I hoped that phil would come in and show us how smart he is but unfortunately, he has shown us so far that he was a great coach. Nothing more.

Being stuck on proving the triangle is obviously a problem that does not seem to be going over well around the league even if you try to make peaches out of it.

Kerr was low balled.

OK! You say you hate what we've become after Phil revamped the D League team! He tore down the roster that was old and headed nowhere. He drafted a possible franchise center! He made smart FA moves last summer. No GM is 100% perfect on all moves. The team is getting younger and making progress. We have our 1st Rd picks going forward and we have cap space for free agents. The team is setup with a solid Frontcourt and only needs 2 guards to improve the starting unit.

Phil doesn't have to prove the Triangle works! That's a settled issue!!! 11 Titles and many more years of playoff basketball. SETTLED! The Spurs use a lot of Triangle and won 67 games. Thibs used a lot of Triangle and was winning games.

Forgive me if I don't agree with your take on things. The coaching issue is being addressed right now. What exactly is so wrong with where the team is headed?

we are no better off than we were before he got here. Are we? You are projecting that phil will do this and phil will do that but so far he has not.

The coaching issue is being addressed? His first choice was a disaster and his second choice looks like a bigger disaster.

Try to say that SA is running triangle? Please! Many teams I am sure steal ideas from diff systems but nobody is running true triangle.

Phil himself said that the media is making it that people don't want to come here. Perhaps phil is responsible for that as well?

I don't think that any decent FA picks us over another team/offer. NONE.

KP was an easy choice. He looks like a good prospect with good potential. That is not nearly enough of a sell. Melo looks like his best days are behind him. Melo is not exciting anyone to run to NY.

Hate to break it to you but things ain't that peachy from my vantage point and I would say that most non flag waving fans or pros would def agree.

This system thing is overblown.
Put capable balanced roster in place with 2-3 top NBA players and they can run any system you want and win a ton of games.
Put in one trick ponies like Melo or AA and no system will help to win.
Knicks are rebuilding so it does not make sense to pay big $$$$ for top coach and it is no point for top NBA coach kill time with rebuilding team.
Phil is playing very complicated hand here... And it will be judged only after the river. We are still in pre-flop.

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:maybe phil low balled him like he did with kerr

Kerr said he wasn't low balled. Besides this most likely was just a getting started phone call. Even if it's not Walton there are other options and Phil has more calls to make. Try not to orgasm with glee over something bad happening to the team! You are a very strange fan.

I'm strange? Me Gleeee? I am a rational fan. You are in lala land.

I love this team and I hate what we have become. I hoped that phil would come in and show us how smart he is but unfortunately, he has shown us so far that he was a great coach. Nothing more.

Being stuck on proving the triangle is obviously a problem that does not seem to be going over well around the league even if you try to make peaches out of it.

Kerr was low balled.

OK! You say you hate what we've become after Phil revamped the D League team! He tore down the roster that was old and headed nowhere. He drafted a possible franchise center! He made smart FA moves last summer. No GM is 100% perfect on all moves. The team is getting younger and making progress. We have our 1st Rd picks going forward and we have cap space for free agents. The team is setup with a solid Frontcourt and only needs 2 guards to improve the starting unit.

Phil doesn't have to prove the Triangle works! That's a settled issue!!! 11 Titles and many more years of playoff basketball. SETTLED! The Spurs use a lot of Triangle and won 67 games. Thibs used a lot of Triangle and was winning games.

Forgive me if I don't agree with your take on things. The coaching issue is being addressed right now. What exactly is so wrong with where the team is headed?

we are no better off than we were before he got here. Are we? You are projecting that phil will do this and phil will do that but so far he has not.

The coaching issue is being addressed? His first choice was a disaster and his second choice looks like a bigger disaster.

Try to say that SA is running triangle? Please! Many teams I am sure steal ideas from diff systems but nobody is running true triangle.

Phil himself said that the media is making it that people don't want to come here. Perhaps phil is responsible for that as well?

I don't think that any decent FA picks us over another team/offer. NONE.

KP was an easy choice. He looks like a good prospect with good potential. That is not nearly enough of a sell. Melo looks like his best days are behind him. Melo is not exciting anyone to run to NY.

Hate to break it to you but things ain't that peachy from my vantage point and I would say that most non flag waving fans or pros would def agree.

I just disagree. We are better off. The talent is younger and with more potential. The cap situation is better. We have our draft picks going forward.

Fish didn't work. We have not settled on the next coach. That's it really. The drama is mostly media created. Teams fire coaches all the time. It's not earth shattering.

Regarding the Triangle, the only issue we have is a need for better guard talent to make it all work.
I've tried to show you the Spurs and Bulls running the same stuff as the Knicks but with better players but you refuse to accept the fact that those teams ran it successfully when they used it. I've tried to show you that there's more to the offense than just the basic Side Triangle. It's a very deep system with lots of variety.

KP is going to be an attraction for this team. Players know he's got loads of talent and potential. It's also not just about this summer! There's no guarantee that a top FA will come but that's not the end of the world either. Phil will still need to make incremental improvement to the roster this summer.

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:maybe phil low balled him like he did with kerr

Kerr said he wasn't low balled. Besides this most likely was just a getting started phone call. Even if it's not Walton there are other options and Phil has more calls to make. Try not to orgasm with glee over something bad happening to the team! You are a very strange fan.

I'm strange? Me Gleeee? I am a rational fan. You are in lala land.

I love this team and I hate what we have become. I hoped that phil would come in and show us how smart he is but unfortunately, he has shown us so far that he was a great coach. Nothing more.

Being stuck on proving the triangle is obviously a problem that does not seem to be going over well around the league even if you try to make peaches out of it.

Kerr was low balled.

OK! You say you hate what we've become after Phil revamped the D League team! He tore down the roster that was old and headed nowhere. He drafted a possible franchise center! He made smart FA moves last summer. No GM is 100% perfect on all moves. The team is getting younger and making progress. We have our 1st Rd picks going forward and we have cap space for free agents. The team is setup with a solid Frontcourt and only needs 2 guards to improve the starting unit.

Phil doesn't have to prove the Triangle works! That's a settled issue!!! 11 Titles and many more years of playoff basketball. SETTLED! The Spurs use a lot of Triangle and won 67 games. Thibs used a lot of Triangle and was winning games.

Forgive me if I don't agree with your take on things. The coaching issue is being addressed right now. What exactly is so wrong with where the team is headed?

Luke is not leaving that situation for this weird situation. Phil has made it known that it's his way or the highway.

HAVE YOU EVERY HEARD A PREZ IN ANY SPORT say he will only interview people he knows, he didn't say he will hire or interview the best candidate out there, only people who will do what ever he says.

How much room will any coach have to do his own thing. It's like phil wants to coach through someone