Phil Jackson has turned down the Knicks’ offer to coach the team, but he could soon return to the organization as a front-office executive.
The Knicks reached out to Jackson to discuss his future plans, according to multiple sources. Though they would prefer to have him coach the team and offered him the job, according to one source, the discussions evolved into Jackson joining the Knicks in some form of a hybrid front-office role.
The Post has learned Jackson needs another knee replacement — his second — which has ruled out a return to the bench for the former Bulls and Lakers coach.
A source close to Jackson said he undoubtedly will be a general manager or team consultant next season, but his coaching days are over. His talks with the Knicks are still ongoing but could be resolved next week.
Jackson’s willingness to relocate to the Big Apple is also an issue, but he might be able to pull off a front-office advisory job where he can still live with his fiancée Jeanie Buss in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Buss works as a marketing executive for the Lakers, with whom Jackson has ruled out rejoining. Buss often is in New York on business, and Jackson, who played for the Knicks from 1967-78 before closing out his career with two seasons with the Nets, could live in the city part-time.
“I don’t think he wants to live in New York any more [full-time], and he definitely would be leery of working for [Knicks owner James] Dolan,’’ the source said.
ESPN reported Friday morning Knicks GM Steve Mills met a couple of weeks ago with Jackson to gauge his interest in coaching next season and was told not at this time. Dolan also has spoken with Jackson.
This marks Dolan’s third attempt to land Jackson since 1999 — Dave Checketts and Isiah Thomas struck out previously. Thomas has long claimed if it weren’t for his romance with Buss, Jackson would have coached the Knicks instead of Larry Brown. Jackson also turned down the Nets last offseason.
Jackson, 69, told USA Today last week of coaching: “I don’t want to be on the sidelines, that’s for damned sure.’’
Jackson said a couple of teams had approached him about taking on a consulting role.
“There are winners and losers in the NBA, and a lot of people are trying to reclaim their position or change their culture,’’ Jackson said in the interview from a sports analytics summit in Boston. “I’ve had conversations.’’
The Knicks are trying to move more toward advanced statistics, making it noteworthy Jackson was a speaker at the conference.
It’s conceivable the Knicks might have Jackson — who won two championship rings as a backup power forward with the team — guide their offseason coaching search. That would not bode well for a potential return by Jeff Van Gundy, who has clashed with Jackson in the past.
Current head coach Mike Woodson, who had one year remaining on his contract with the Knicks, likely will be fired following a disastrous second full season with the team. The Knicks held a 22-40 record entering Friday’s game against the Jazz.
Jackson had a consulting arrangement with Detroit last offseason, though it didn’t pan out. The Pistons hired Maurice Cheeks, who was fired at midseason.
“I have a great deal of respect for Phil Jackson but I’m not going to entertain anything about Phil Jackson,’’ Woodson said before Friday’s game.
A Garden spokesperson declined comment Wednesday when asked by The Post if the Knicks were pursuing Jackson as a consultant. The Garden also declined comment Friday.
The Knicks have a phalanx of front-office types that include Mills as president, Allan Houston as assistant GM and Mark Warkentien as the personnel director and point man on trades. John Gabriel and Mark Hughes are also in the pro personnel department. But the Knicks need to change their culture and the Zen Master could do it — even if he’s not on the bench.