The NY Knicks are nearing a deal with Steve Kerr to be their head coach and Phil Jackson is looking to get the deal done after the first round schedule in the playoffs finishes and leading into the summer as the team tries to keep Carmelo Anthony, the Zen master may look to clear cap space by making some trades for Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Amar'e Stoudemire.
The news on Kerr is not much of a surprise, as ESPN.com and other outlets have been reporting that he is interested in the Knicks job and that Jackson is interested in hiring him. According to ESPN.com, the team is looking to make the hire soon and with May hitting the calendar on Thursday, the team wants to get things done. The report says that sources have confirmed that the Knicks and Kerr are close to a deal and that the playoffs break would allow for TNT to easily replace Kerr as one of their top analysts.
Kerr has never been a head coach in the league, but over the past few years he has made it clear that he is interested in coaching and now that could come to fruition with Jackson. Many have speculated that Kerr would be a good fit with the Knicks, as he played for Jackson in the past and knows the Triangle offense. The Knicks fired Mike Woodson after the tough season of missing the playoffs and now they are going to focus on bringing back Carmelo Anthony once they get that deal locked in.
The Knicks want to keep Anthony and they realize that he potentially could sign with the Chicago Bulls or Houston Rockets if he opts out this summer. Jackson may have a hard time trading names like Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Amar'e Stoudemire, but he could try and that would enable the Knicks to add some talent while also clearing cap space. Jackson has spoken about Anthony possibly taking less money and Melo himself said that it could be a possibility if he stays in New York. The team has the advantage of adding an extra year and paying him the most money of any other team, but as Jackson cited, the Big 3 took less money to play together and Anthony may have to do the same thing.
Anthony has the right to opt out and become a free agent and he likely wants to do it because this will be the last time he is on the market at the height of his powers. Anthony is an elite scorer no matter what anyone thinks of him and after being drafted by the Nuggets and signing an extension and then getting traded to the Knicks, he now has the chance to be an actual free agent. Anthony wants to bring a championship to NY, but he will have to be patient and the team may not be ready for a run until after this season. Anthony missed the playoffs for the first time this year in his career and that could be a factor as well, especially with the way the team regressed after winning 54 games and the division last season.