CLEVELAND — Get your zen on!
According to a league source, Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson is on the verge of accepting a Knicks front-office position.
“It’s real close,’’ the league source said.
Jackson has never held a front-office job, but lack of experience may not be an issue for the Zen Master.
According to an ESPN.com report, the position’s title could be president of basketball operations. But a league source said, despite the fancy moniker, Jackson wouldn’t be usurping the current power of new president/general manager Steve Mills.
Mills, on hand at Quicken Loans Arena, said, “Can’t talk about it.’’
It seems hard to believe Jackson would have complete control of the team, especially with owner James Dolan around. Plus, it’s unclear if Jackson wants to be involved so heavily he would have to live full-time in New York during the entire season. A source said Jackson has reservations about such a move because he loves living in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with his fiancée, Lakers executive Jeanie Buss.
For example, Jerry West works for the Warriors but does not live in the Oakland area.
Jackson has won a record 11 titles as an NBA head coach, one in the CBA and two as a player with the Knicks. His stature could lend well as a recruiter and be a strong influence in convincing Carmelo Anthony to stick around, just as Pat Riley convinced LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to unite in 2010.
A league source said Jackson has done a lot of research on the Knicks in recent weeks, including watching games, observing their off-the-court issues and studying their roster and cap situation.
Former Knicks president Isiah Thomas, now an analyst on NBA TV, tried getting Jackson to coach the Knicks in 2005.
“Any time you talk about Phil Jackson, you talk about immense brain power,’’ Thomas said. “He’s one of the best [all-time] coaches in the league in terms of winning championships with what he’s done in Chicago and Los Angeles. He’s untested in the front office — however, we do know in the game of basketball, you won’t find a better brain than his. Any time you can add a Phil Jackson to your organization, you have made your organization better if he decides to join.”
One NBA GM said of the potential of Jackson working in a front-office capacity for the Knicks: “It’s a no-brainer. It’s still basketball.’’
The Jackson move could make for yet another distraction for a club gasping their last breath in the playoff race, having moved 3 ½ games behind the Hawks for the eighth seed but were seven games back in the loss column entering Saturday’s Cleveland encounter.
Before facing the Cavaliers, Woodson said, “At this point, I’m not even going to entertain that. My job right now is I’m in a race to get this team in the eighth spot.’’
Thomas felt for Woodson. Originally, Mills approached Jackson about coaching, but his bench days are over as he needs a second knee replacement.
“The timing of it and the things that are coming out right now make it difficult for Coach Woodson,’’ Thomas said. “But Woodson has been a pro and he’s handled the situation all year long with the ups-and-downs of the team and the firing of [general manager] Glen Grunwald. Right now, he’s trying to keep his team focused on making the playoffs and if they continue to play well, like they have the past two games, they might have a shot.”
Jackson’s off-court leadership would be vital in a front-office role — something Mills didn’t seem to provide. In recent weeks, assistant general manager Allan Houston has huddled with individual players more in quasi-pep talks.
Other than having a big hand in assembling chaotic rosters in the CBA as head man of the Albany Patroons in the 1980s, Jackson’s only NBA experience is as a consultant for the Pistons during their coaching search that ended with the hiring of Maurice Cheeks, who was fired at midseason. In a recent interview with USA Today, Jackson hinted Cheeks wasn’t his choice.
“I guess we weren’t successful, but I really encouraged [Pistons owner] Tom Gores that the general manager has to be able to pick his coach so they can win it together,’’ Jackson said. “And Joe [Dumars] wanted Maurice, so it didn’t work out, unfortunately for Maurice. I developed a relationship with the owner, who lives in L.A. We have conversations.’’
During the interview, Jackson mentioned a few names of unemployed coaches who should not be, including George Karl, Avery Johnson, Nate McMillan and Byron Scott. That bears watching, because Jackson could head up the Knicks’ search committee for a head coach.
One irony to Jackson considering being part of the front office is his public disdain for the Knicks roster. Before the 2012-13 season he lambasted the makeup, calling it “clumsy,’’ indicating he was glad the club didn’t contact him to ask him to be the head coach.
After Woodson’s interim season in which he went 18-6, the Knicks never contacted Jackson and promoted Woodson. ON HBO’s Real Sports, Jackson said, “They never called and I kind of appreciate that. Because if they called, it would open the door and they didn’t want to open the door. I mean, I wasn’t going to take the job, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t take it.
Why?
“It’s a little bit of a clumsy team.’’