As the Knicks attempt to finalize a deal with Phil Jackson to become a major player in their front office, the Zen Master’s first line of business would be to conduct a coaching search in the offseason.
And one very interesting name has already popped up: Steve Kerr, a sharpshooting guard who played for Jackson when he coached the Bulls. The former Suns general manager now works for TNT, but is on record saying he wants to coach next season, and his hat was thrown in the ring during ABC’s broadcast of the Bulls-Heat game Sunday.
Monday didn’t become Judgment Day as Jackson and the Knicks were still negotiating financial and job-description details. Both sides want this to work out, and the Knicks, according to a source, believe the Hall of Famer should be on board this week. However, the deal is not done. Monday night, owner James Dolan hurriedly left his baseline seat in the first quarter and was gone for nearly a half-hour.
Hiring a new coach — with Mike Woodson likely to be axed after the season — would put a definite first stamp on Jackson’s tenure. The second order of business would be retaining Carmelo Anthony.
One person familiar with Jackson’s thinking said he would probably want to hire a coach familiar with his trademark triangle offense, which Kerr is.
Jackson and Kerr have remained friends over the years. In April, when Kerr was asked if Jackson would be interested in coaching the Cavaliers, Kerr said prophetically:
“I just don’t think physically he would be up to diving back in headfirst into coaching,’’ Kerr said. “My sense is that Phil wants to get back in in a different position. I don’t think he wants to coach. Just the rigors of the travel would probably be too much for him. But I could see him in management, maybe not necessarily as a GM, but in a consultant role, or a vice president, where he’s helping put together an organization. That’s where I think he’ll end up in some capacity.’’
Charley Rosen, Jackson’s longtime friend, biographer and member of his Albany Patroons staff in the old CBA, said Monday he would be surprised if Jackson didn’t want the top title.
“If he’s going to do it, he’d want the whole enchilada,’’ Rosen said. “Why else do it? He doesn’t want to be a consultant. He wants to pick a coach, be able to make trades, draft, recruit free agents.’’
What he doesn’t want is the New York winter. The 68-year-old, who needs a second knee replacement, lives with his fiancée, Jeanie Buss, in a house in Playa Del Rey. Buss is president of the Lakers and finds herself in New York on business on occasion. Jackson also has two houses in Montana, which he frequents in the summer.
“He doesn’t want to live in the cold anymore,’’ said Rosen, who lives in the Kingston, NY, area. “But when we’ve discussed living in New York, I told him Brooklyn Heights. Hey, it’s not so bad if you have a driver.’’
Indeed, one of the perks the Knicks provide their president and head coaches is a driver. He might want his own pilot, too, so he can jet back to the West Coast.
Jackson has tipped his hand on other coaches he respects. When asked in an interview recently which coach is unemployed who should not be, he mentioned Nate McMillan, George Karl and Byron Scott. He did not mention Jeff Van Gundy.
A Kerr hiring could be a risk. One NBA source said, “Steve may not have the charisma to be a head coach.’’
The Knicks hired president/GM Steve Mills four days before training camp partly because of his strong connections with agents. That’s not Jackson’s strength at all. Hence, sources maintain Mills will still have a similar role even with Jackson on board.
Woodson, even if he manages a miracle finish and seizes the eighth playoff seed, probably won’t stay on to finish his contract unless the Knicks get to the second round.
The whole Jackson soap opera comes at a bad time — just as the Knicks were finding chemistry and a winning streak. The Jackson saga has overshadowed their mini-surge in the standings, where they trailed Atlanta by 3 ½ games for the final playoff spot heading into Monday night.
“I just got to stay the course and stay focused,’’ Woodson said before the Knicks hosted the Sixers. “I’ve got to worry about what I’m doing from a coaching standpoint in terms of trying to get our guys ready to play. It’s out there. It’s what it is, but my focus is really on our team and getting ready for this Sixers team.’’