Marv wrote:and f**k that moron jackson for that signing. how the hell do you give that player at that age in that physical shape with that injury history that contract?
Dealing with the Bulls or former Bulls was an issue
Bill Paxton is in the Bull front office.
BJ Armstrong is Derrick Rose's agent
Billy Duffy, Noah's agent, had ties to Jackson from the international basketball community.
Noah in his prime was a close to prototypical Triangle pivot. High IQ, relentless defender, a really good decision maker on the court. What really set Noah apart from many pivots was his incredible timing. Not on a Draymond Green/Joe Dumars level, but just innate ability to read the floor and predict how a play would eventually unfold. Master of sliding in and out to avoid the three second violation. Great help defender. Could range out anywhere.
Jackson, as the rumors go, avoided a lot of other front office people he didn't know well, because he couldn't actually answer many questions that would arise in trade talks. He was a coach, never trained to run a front office.
It's like the show Friends, Chandler married Monica because she was single and lived next door. That's it. Path of least resistance. Noah was a path of least resistance. Jackson was in love what Noah used to be, needed to make the playoffs to keep his job and so gutted the Knicks future to get Noah, Lee, Jennings, Rose, etc. And Noah was in the small circle around where Jackson would actually engage other front offices. Lots of people sadly could not reach Phil Jackson when he was with the Knicks.
What is key to note is relationships. Most of you are still in the working world right now. Relationships are critical. People will help and engage people they know and trust and bond with and can relate to in some way. A guy like Perry has those relationships in place. A guy like Jackson did not. Jackson sought options based on his pre-existing relationships in the league. He just was not wired in to other GMs, scouts, agents and other owners like most seasoned front office guys.
I recognize in all of the major New York sports, fans get livid when the Jets or Mets get a retread. An aging has been coach or GM who didn't do much in his last few stops. Well again, those relationships are critical. While the guy might be an idiot, he might just be wired in and that's enough. If Rich Paul wasn't best friends with LBJ, he'd be running a car wash. He's like that midget on the show Entourage. Power by mere association.
If you want proof, just remember Brian Schottenheimer dragging the Jets offense into the ground again and again. He's not there because he's some world class talent, he's there because his dad Marty was beloved by many of the old guard in the league.
In his prime, Noah would have really tore the league apart if he was a Triangle center with some real talent around him. Noah has just raw willpower. He willed himself into being a better player. Just blood and grit. I love the old version of Noah. Used to be one of my most favorite players. But now he's just an *******. The difference is just raw effort. Again, some of you are in management somewhere, anyone here ever give a new kid a chance because you liked his moxy, his work ethic, his relentless dogged pursuit of excellence?
Noah could still be a useful, but heavily overpaid, player, but he just doesn't care.
Bad contract is on Phil.
Not giving a **** is on Noah.
What guys currently playing do not understand is real despair. I've seen it up close and it's brutal. It's guys who didn't do their best/try their best and live to regret it every day the rest of their lives. Guys like Donovan McNabb, huffing and puffing to the line of scrimmage in the Super Bowl because he wasn't in better shape, burning precious seconds on the clock. The kid who stole Derek Jeter's glove, then got dumped in a trade and had to wonder what if he didn't do that, would his career be different. Noah, guys like him and Melo, one day, they will look back, and regret it all.