Hope is high with the New York Knicks. The team is officially hiring Phil Jackson to take over as president of basketball operations, the first move to start getting the franchise back on a winning path. With the 2013 season possibly coming to a close sooner rather than later, Jackson's job starts immediately. Can the NBA legend improve the franchise and get the Knicks to a championship? Michael Jordan thinks so.
Jordan has faith that his former coach can help turn the Knicks around now that he works in the team's front office. According to Jordan, Jackson understands how to manage egos and create successful long-term plans that should work well for the Knicks.
"Phil can do some good things with them because he's gifted," Jordan said, via ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. "Phil is fantastic at managing egos and personalities, getting everyone on the same page and maxing out whatever potential is there for what should be the common and ultimate goal. Just because he's never been an executive before doesn't mean he can't do that. He's wanted to do it for a while now, and I know he can do it ... so long as he has the necessary pieces in place."
Having the necessary pieces is the first order of business for Jackson. Of course, Carmelo Anthony's free agency is the biggest hurdle facing the Knicks right now. While Anthony has stressed that the hiring of Jackson will have no impact on his free agency decision, the guard has said he is willing to do whatever Jackson says in order to win again.
"I'm willing to do whatever," Anthony said, via ESPN.com. "As long as it's gonna put me in a position to win, I'm willing to do whatever. I'm not sold or stuck on my play. What I've been able to do these past 10-11 years has gotten me at where I am right now. If Phil wants to come in and change that this late in my career, if it's going to help me win a championship, I'm with it."
If Anthony stays, he believes the presence of Jackson makes the Knicks a favorable destination for other marquee players. According to the New York Daily News, the Miami Heat fear that LeBron James is considering jumping ship this summer to New York in order to work with Jackson. James likes the winning atmosphere the NBA legend creates and could be persuaded to team up with Anthony.
While the futures of players like Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire are in question with the Jackson hire, one person safe could be Iman Shumpert. Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that Jackson likes Shumpert and believes he is a strong piece to the triangle offense and solid young player to build around. Shumpert has faced trade rumors all season, but could be safe with Jackson on board.
