This is a first.
Derek Fisher is essentially saying that his players either refuse to learn the triangle or can’t focus long enough to learn it, because so many of them are set to become free agents.
The 5-21 Knicks have nine guys set to come off the books. They include Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani,Samuel Dalembert, JasonSmith, Iman Shumpert, Shane Larkin, Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich and Travis Wear.
Fisher told the New York Daily News that “guys are more worried about their next contract,” than they are this season.
Derek Fisher’s job of developing the Knicks into a cohesive unit has been compromised by two-thirds of the roster being in the final year of their contracts, according to the head coach.
“That’s a reality of this game,” Fisher said on Sunday. “You have a number of guys that are thinking about how they’re going to provide for their families and where their career is going and whether they’re going to be here or on another team and all the ramifications of those decisions.
“So that’s not easy stuff to process. And then on top of that they’re being asked to sacrifice more and do less in order to win so it’s not a great combination for cohesion and team chemistry but I do think there are enough guys in the locker room that want to do it the right way and so that’s why we’ve had a chance a lot of nights to win. But I don’t think anybody’s giving up on what we’re trying to do at this point.”