Sources familiar with the situation told ESPN that the Knicks and Jackson quietly picked up their option on the remaining two years of his contract this spring.

Jackson and the Knicks each had an option to walk away from each other at the end of this season. It was built into the contract after Year 3 because Jackson had no interest in working through a lockout. The NBA and its players' union made sure to avoid that this fall, when they agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement.

There was some speculation that either Jackson or the Knicks would want to end the relationship as the option trigger approached, but sources told ESPN that the final two years of Jackson's contract were picked up "a while ago."

Dolan said he planned to honor his five-year contract with Jackson "all the way to the end" during a Feb. 10 radio interview on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

The Knicks completed a disappointing 31-51 season Wednesday with a 114-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. They have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons and have lost at least 50 games in the past three, all under Jackson. In total, New York is 80-166 In Jackson's three full seasons as team president.

Jackson and the Knicks hope to rebuild the roster this summer via the draft and free agency. The club will select no lower than ninth in the first round of June's draft. New York also projects to have more than $20 million in cap space to spend on free agents.

In addition to the draft and free agency, Jackson will have to decide how to approach Carmelo Anthony's future with the club.

The Knicks talked to several teams about trades involving Anthony prior to the deadline, and Anthony acknowledged Wednesday that the club may look to trade him again in the offseason.

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

yeah but it is really hard to root for loses. I hate lost seasons.

A lost season is losing 50+ with guys like Eddy Curry and knowing you have no draft pick and are going into the next season with the same roster.

knicks1248 wrote:some of the Most depressing news of the decade

That's cause you have not "Met John Gabriel!"

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

yeah but it is really hard to root for loses. I hate lost seasons.

thats the whole point. If we execute on this draft its not a lost season. Any more than having KP to show for was a lost season.

A lost season is losing 50+ with guys like Eddy Curry and knowing you have no draft pick and are going into the next season with the same roster.

How long does that outlook continue for? Eventually Phil's teams have to start winning, no? He can't just proudly say his legacy was that he brought a dozen lottery picks to the team.

He don't say that, we do!!!
But one more time, look at year one in great detail and you see just how bad our roster was.
ONe first round in three years. You can fire Phil all you want, that won't change.
Patience.

Nalod wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

yeah but it is really hard to root for loses. I hate lost seasons.

thats the whole point. If we execute on this draft its not a lost season. Any more than having KP to show for was a lost season.

A lost season is losing 50+ with guys like Eddy Curry and knowing you have no draft pick and are going into the next season with the same roster.

How long does that outlook continue for? Eventually Phil's teams have to start winning, no? He can't just proudly say his legacy was that he brought a dozen lottery picks to the team.

He don't say that, we do!!!
But one more time, look at year one in great detail and you see just how bad our roster was.
ONe first round in three years. You can fire Phil all you want, that won't change.
Patience.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

yeah but it is really hard to root for loses. I hate lost seasons.

thats the whole point. If we execute on this draft its not a lost season. Any more than having KP to show for was a lost season.

A lost season is losing 50+ with guys like Eddy Curry and knowing you have no draft pick and are going into the next season with the same roster.

How long does that outlook continue for? Eventually Phil's teams have to start winning, no? He can't just proudly say his legacy was that he brought a dozen lottery picks to the team.

He don't say that, we do!!!
But one more time, look at year one in great detail and you see just how bad our roster was.
ONe first round in three years. You can fire Phil all you want, that won't change.
Patience.

I'd rather replace him with someone who can keep up with the advances in the metrics (without ignoring he traditional eyeball test). If he's just being replaced by someone else Dolan picks, I don't know if that will help. You're right that people here say that, not Phil, though.
I'm not really sure how far he can get the team if Phil drafts very well but messes up 90% of his FA signings and trades. Eventually these lottery picks are gonna be on max and supermax contracts or he's going to have to trade them. The state of the team he inherited doesn't justify spending $80 mil of a $94 mil cap on Rose, Melo, Noah, Thomas, and Lee.

I'm not that concerned with the whole Metrics thing. Phil may not rely on it but just about all of his team does. They do the heavy lifting on scouting prospects. Phil admits he doesn't do it and trusts the people who are long time Pros at it.

As for Phil's signings and contract negotiations, I think his choices will be easier now since he isn't likely to be going after any elite level FA's at this stage. The biggest FA is likely a Jrue Holiday type or lower.

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:At least this means more lottery picks!

yeah but it is really hard to root for loses. I hate lost seasons.

thats the whole point. If we execute on this draft its not a lost season. Any more than having KP to show for was a lost season.

A lost season is losing 50+ with guys like Eddy Curry and knowing you have no draft pick and are going into the next season with the same roster.

How long does that outlook continue for? Eventually Phil's teams have to start winning, no? He can't just proudly say his legacy was that he brought a dozen lottery picks to the team.

phil is not here to win, that so obvious...There's isn't President in the 4 major sports that has had 4 losing season and still have a job...