Phil Jackson has made his first move. The New York Knicks announced that head coach Mike Woodson would not be returning for the 2014 season after the team failed to make the playoffs this year. With Woodson gone, the focus does not shift to New York's pending coaching search, but to the future of Carmelo Anthony. Does the firing of Woodson means Anthony is considering staying with the Knicks in free agency?
According to the New York Daily News, Jackson was unhappy with the lack of consistency and conditioning of the Knicks this year and felt that firing Woodson was the best first move to make. Along with Woodson goes the entire coaching staff who were working off one-year contracts. Now Jackson can bringing in his own guys and build his own staff that he feels can win.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff," Jackson said in a released statement.. "The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond."
The Knicks are showing serious signs of building for the future. Hiring Jackson was the first move. Firing Mike Woodson was the second step. The third comes with Anthony. The guard has been a supporter of the head coach, saying all of the right things when speaking with the media. However, Anthony has said he wants to win now and not later and will make his free agency decision off where he can win. Does the firing of Woodson make the Knicks part of that pool?
"I want to come back," Anthony said, via ESPN.com. "I want to come back. If me wanting to be here, if we can put ourselves in a position to compete at a high level over the course of five years, whatever that contract will be, I'm willing to stay here. I never once said I wanted to leave. I always said I want to explore options and see what's out there."
Outside of Anthony, what is Jackson's next move? According to ESPN NBA sources, Pau Gasol will be another player of focus come the offseason. As Jackson works to bring in his own staff and players, Gasol is expected to be a target, something the forward said he is very open to. With the futures of Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire in doubt, Gasol would be a welcomed presence and his history with Jackson works well for the Knicks.
Anthony will take plenty of free agency visits no matter what. However, the firing of Woodson shows the Knicks are serious about turning things around. The hiring of Jackson already impressed Anthony and the firing of Woodson likely did as well.