Phil Jackson is contractually obligated to conduct the Knicks’ coaching search this summer, and any scenario under which he can bolt for the Lakers after the season was branded ridiculous by a person close to the Zen Master.
There has been speculation since last June that Jackson’s contract opt-out is for this summer. But the Knicks team president has no opt-out this summer, as has been reported. He doesn’t have one until after next season, though the Knicks believe he may finish the five-year contract.
If Jackson tried to break his contract this summer, owner James Dolan would have to give him permission to rejoin his fiancée, Jeanie Buss, to help her run the Lakers, and Dolan would not. There was a speculative report this week that Jackson could ditch a coaching search to join the Lakers this summer by using the reported upcoming opt-out.
That Jackson won’t fulfill the full five years seemed a foregone conclusion last season, when he kept mentioning general manager Steve Mills as his successor.
In one interview, Jackson said his bicoastal relationship with Buss “isn’t ideal.”
“It was not something I would necessarily bargain to do, to live away from the companion I’ve had for 15 years,” Jackson said. “But she said, ‘We’ll be fine.’ And there is something about being fruitful, purposeful in life.’’
Jackson then added: “If I’m not here four or five years down the road, then I have a young coach I believe in who will complete it.”
Well, that young coach — Derek Fisher — has been fired. Jackson issued a confusing tweet Tuesday saying he’s looking for “a transformational leader” and not a “transactional leader’’ in a head coach. Jackson said he subscribes to “transformational leadership.’’
University of Albany strategic management professor Kenneth Moore told The Post that Vince Lombardi is an example of the first sports coach to use “transformational’’ principles.
“Transactional leadership is: ‘How do we play better basketball?’ ’’ Moore said. “Transformational leadership is: ‘How do we become a better team?’ It’s the relationship side of playing better basketball, done through charisma or being a hardass.
“It’s trying to be something really, really special, so you can say we have a team that we can be proud of,’’ Moore added. “It’s the difference between relationship leadership and task-oriented leadership.’’
Moore said he uses the examples of Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt and George Patton as such leaders. His sports examples are Tom Landry and Bill Belichick. Asked why not Jackson, Moore cracked: “He’s on the right track, but he also had Michael Jordan.’’