Back in 2014, Phil Jackson signed a five-year deal to become President of the New York Knicks. While we knew it was going to be a process, things are taking a little longer than expected.
Sure, Phil drafted Kristaps Porzingis, who has the look of a potential all-star one day.
However, the team sits with a record of 32-48, which places them 13th in the eastern conference.
Although Phil still has two years left on his current deal, depending on who you believe, the 11-time NBA champion ‘badly’ wants out of ‘the Big Apple’.
A little nosing around NBA circles adds some important elements of subtext.
One is that Jackson badly wants out of New York, preferring to return back to Los Angeles to be near his fiancee, Lakers scion Jeanie Buss. Jackson is believed to have an out in his Knicks deal that could free him up to do just that at the end of next season unless things between him and Dolan become untenable before that.
It’s believed that as soon as Jeanie’s brother Jim Buss — blamed for the Lakers current free fall — is somehow removed from the scene, Jackson will be back as soon as he can engineer it.
Not only do I think Phil ends up back in LA, I believe he should.
This would be a prime time to make the move.
Odds are the Lakers will have the number two pick in the draft at worst and not only that, with Kobe Bryant retiring, one must think free agents would love to be apart of a franchise as prestigious as the Lakers and who doesn’t want to enjoy the weather in California?
With all of that being said, being near his fiancee, Jeanie Buss, would be the biggest reason for the move.