Things appear to be going from bad to worse for the New York Knicks. The team entered the 2015 season with the understanding that they were focused on the long-term outlook and the playoffs might not be in the picture at the moment. However, after a bad stretch of games the team felt the need to make a move quickly and Derek Fisher was the first on the chopping block as the head coach was fired on Monday.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Ian Begley, the Knicks fired Fisher following a five-game losing streak during a 1-9 stretch in the past 10 games. Fisher went 17-65 in his first season with the team while being 23-31 this year heading into the All-Star break. Fisher was hired upon the arrival of Phil Jackson. He immediately inserted the triangle offense as expectations were high around him. However, the coach failed to meet them and a move was made.
The biggest question with the firing is the future of Carmelo Anthony. To be clear. the star has expressed his commitment to the franchise. Will that change with Fisher out and rebuilding headed the team's way? According to the New York Daily News, the idea that Anthony asks for a trade is not totally out of the question. The star has a no-trade clause in his contract so the only way he is dealt is if he asks for the move himself. The Knicks are focused on the process right now and while Anthony helps that, he is also in the prime of his career and ready to win.
Anthony has given no indication that he is looking to uproot and go somewhere else. However, the Knicks are not close to winning and the coaching change will not help. The Knicks will head into a key free agency run with questions at the coaching position. The team is loaded with salary cap space, but the Knicks might not be able to target the big names they originally intended on.
According to Begley, the Knicks were planning on being potential landing spots for Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, Al Horford and Brandon Jennings. They were hoping to use Fisher along with Anthony's star power to make big moves in an effort to build a championship roster. Now the team must wonder if they should be building around Anthony or rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
It is unknown what this coaching change does for Anthony. He has said in the past that signing with Chicago in free agency probably would have gotten him a championship, but he trusted Jackson and the Knicks' front office to build a better roster. That has not happened yet. Will Anthony's patience finally run out with the Knicks?