NBA

Jackson begins Fisher courtship with Knicks’ search at 7 weeks

While Phil Jackson had a quick conversation with Derek Fisher Wednesday, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti gave no indication Fisher is even considering returning to the Thunder as a player/unofficial assistant coach role. Presti said he won’t stand in his way of Fisher leaving for another club to coach or join the front office.

Yahoo! Sports reported Jackson and Fisher spoke Wednesday and the two likely will talk again next week after Fisher formally decides whether or not to retire. Jackson needed Presti’s permission to proceed on interviewing Fisher this week for the Knicks’ head-coaching vacancy. The coaching search has hit nearly the seven-week mark.

“We have absolutely no reason to expect Derek to keep us informed of his plans,’’ Presti said in his season-wrap-up press conference. “He’s going to have to make the decisions that are best for him. We wish him the best, as with any player that’s come through here. We want them to have fulfilling experiences as a professional but also as a person and reflect back on their time in Oklahoma City as a chance to do the best work of their career.

“That’s a player, or a staff member or anybody. I’m hopeful that he looks at that and he feels that he got better and improved in different ways while he was here.’’

Presti certainly sounded as if he was talking about Fisher in the past tense. The Lakers have some interest in Fisher for either their head-coaching vacancy or for their front office. But will Lakers president Jeanie Buss want to steal Fisher from Jackson?

“I think he’ll be excellent in whatever he chooses to do,’’ Presti said. “I know everyone has said that. If he were to do something in the front office, I think he’d do well at that as well. But we don’t have a right to know what he’s doing. The only thing we have a right is to support him because he’s left an impact here in a positive way, as has players that have come before him that have gone on to exceptional coaching careers elsewhere like Kevin Ollie.’’

Presti was not asked by the Thunder media about the tampering charges levied against Jackson for speaking openly about Fisher as a Knicks coaching candidate. Jackson responded in his own way in a tweet Wednesday, indicating he will not be deterred from informing the team’s fans through the media.
Jackson’s tweet stated: “Undaunted by “stuff” we will continue to have a relationship with the press, which informs our fan base#chagrined.’’

Jackson may feel under the gun as he has a mid-June trip to Turkey planned for his son’s wedding and wants the search over by then, as The Post reported.

Jackson’s first choice for coach was Steve Kerr, who gave the Knicks a verbal commitment before backing out. In a story on Fisher’s lengthy blog tribute to Jackson, The Post reported on April 27 if Kerr’s negotiations fell through and Golden State fired Mark Jackson, Fisher would be at the top of Jackson’s list. The Post subsequently reported Jackson preferred Denver coach Brian Shaw to Fisher, but didn’t know if he could pry him from the Nuggets.