Daily Knicks
Fansided

Knicks Rumors: 5 Reasons Phil Jackson Won’t Leave New York In 2017

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the third quarter between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the third quarter between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Dec 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives the ball around Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives the ball around Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Building Sustainability

As previously alluded to, the New York Knicks have a young phenom who’s in the process of achieving stardom. Though Kristaps Porzingis projects to stabilize the organization for years to come, one player won’t be enough.

Phil Jackson wants to build a sustainable contender before he leaves New York and there’s still significant work to be done.

The Knicks have Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Porzingis, and Lance Thomas signed to long-term contracts. That ensures some measure of New York’s future.

Having said that, the list of New York’s pending free agents includes point guards Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose, and backup shooting guard Justin Holiday.

If Jackson were to leave before free agency, he’d be leaving the Knicks without a backcourt. That’s nothing short of unforgivable, especially in a modern era where guard play can spell the difference between success and failure.

Simply put: it’s hard to believe that Jackson would abandon his quest to build a sustainable contender before he’s succeeded in doing so.

Home/Knicks Rumors