Judging Phil Jackson’s Second Season as New York Knicks President

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson is ending his second official season as team president, and thus, some judging on his overall performance in building the team. is Jackson on the right track?

As we’re closing out on the 2015-16 regular season, New York Knicks President Phil Jackson is ending his second official season as team president, and thus, some judging on his overall performance in building the team. Some will point to Jackson’s meager win-loss record as a conduit for firing him, but when you put everything together in free agency, plus the selection of Kristaps Porzingis in last year’s draft, is Jackson on the right track or is the hearsay about him needing to move on valid?

Did Phil Jackson do a good job this past summer? Is New York doomed? Are the Knicks on the right track? Why are the Knicks leaning towards Kurt Rambis to remain as head coach? When does Dolan take over, hire his own guy and trade all of the draft picks again?

At some point, I think all of those questions floated around Knicks fans for some time now. After a feel good .500 start, the Knicks fell into a tailspin, one that has them in the firm position of giving up another top draft pick, which is becoming more of the norm for this franchise lately. Even finding a potential star like Kristaps Porzingis can’t take the sting out of that.

Regardless, I think the question that’s more interesting around the Knicks is how good was Jackson this past offseason and can he bring in the right pieces in this offseason, as the cap jumps to an astronomical and historical rate. Well, allow me to serve my own little take on this.

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Starting at the top, the decision to fire Derek Fisher was just as curious as the decision to hire him. Fisher, fresh off of playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, came into coaching last season and struggled with a desolated roster. This year, I thought he was making strides as a coach. Nothing special, but I found him to be moving from a net negative coach to something of a neutral coach – didn’t add or take away anything overall.

But now, we’re back at square one with the head coaching debate. Kurt Rambis, as I continue to point out, is an awful coach. However, he has a chance because Jackson wants a “triangle coach,” which befuddles me. The list of coaches that run the pure triangle is slim and Jackson trying to force a triangle coach in, regardless of track record, could be the most damaging thing for the Knicks this upcoming season.

And then there’s the roster.

Jan 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8), Arron Afflalo (4), Carmelo Anthony (7) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Jazz 118-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

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If you look at the pieces on the floor and where the Knicks sit in the standings, the argument for now is fair. After a good start, Arron Afflalo has tailed off and at age-30, it seems like he’s morphing into a good sixth or seventh man at this stage in his career. Robin Lopez was a great signing – removing the wear and tear of banging at center for Porzingis, while offering the little things, including experience.

But after that, and Porzingis of course, the Knicks made some rather dubious options. Hindsight is always 20-20, but with the way the league is moving, the Knicks would’ve much rather have a “3-and-D” prototype over Jerian Grant at this point. Not to say Grant is a lost cause, but with the way Afflalo broke down, imagine having Justin Anderson to space the floor or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to throw and defend the perimeter.

And I was big on hating the Derrick Williams move. Williams is a fine player, but we’re about 60 games into the season and he hasn’t moved the needle at all. He’s still a fine scorer, but not anything special. He provides athleticism but doesn’t know how to use it, outside of dunks. He can’t defend the small forward position or the power forward position, and he can’t space the floor, shooting under 30% from beyond the arc. Imagine if the Knicks got an actual point guard – Toronto’s Cory Joseph – with the money they spent on Williams.

It’s easy to attack those things because the result is bad. However, let’s look at it this way.

All that money is movable. Afflalo and Williams both hold player options this summer and with all of the money coming into the NBA in three months, it makes zero sense for them to opt-in. If anything, you opt-out and get the security in more years, even for less money. Lopez is locked in, but his contract is also affected by the NBA’s cap jump, turning a slightly overpaid contract into a perfectly cromulent contract, maybe even a steal.

Jackson went out and went after the “right” players, which is key. Outside of Greg Monroe, the Knicks were attached to the right players, in the discussion for players like Danny Green, LaMarcus Aldridge, and DeMarre Carroll. It’s a small thing, but it showed that Jackson and his staff had the right direction. As they venture into this free agency class, upgrades are needed at point guard, shooting guard and the latter parts of the rotation.

Based on his expressed interests, as well as players signed, there’s a level of trust that Jackson should’ve earned, heading into next summer.

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And lastly, the Knicks improved. They were awful last season, easily the worst team in the league with barren talent. Now, you have Porzingis you can dream on, you have Grant and Willie Hernangomez as potential role players. Lopez will be a solid starter, and guys like Langston Galloway, Lance Thomas, and Kyle O’Quinn are underpaid role players. Carmelo Anthony returned after knee surgery and provided the Knicks with a legitimate number one scorer.

Whether he’ll serve as a pillar for the next great Knicks piece or a trade piece to assist a rebuild is anyone’s guess moving forward.

There are going to be small points used to whether Jackson has actually improved the team – win/loss record, if the team is any closer to attracting star talent and who remains on the roster as long-term pieces. However, I think it’s impossible to give him a grade right now, but rather, take some of the good things he did, take some of the negatives and try to balance them out.

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So in other words – Jackson should get a C, with this offseason as a chance to either cement himself as the “Zen Master,” turning the Knicks around or start the murmurs of finding his successor.