It turns out Phil Jackson may not have carte blanche with the New York Knicks.
That right reportedly belongs to Carmelo Anthony.
Here’s The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski talking on the matter, as transcribed by RealGM:
“For everyone suggesting New York president Phil Jackson controls the future of the Knicks’ franchise, just remember: when he included a no-trade clause in Carmelo Anthony’s five-year, $124 million contract extension, Jackson ceded power to his franchise star,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “Which is why Melo will outlast Jackson at Madison Square Garden.”
The Knicks aggressively pursued multiple free agents last offseason in hopes of becoming a playoff team again, but they are likely to end up in the lottery without even owning their draft pick.
“Jackson has failed Melo far more than Melo has failed the Knicks,” continued Wojnarowski.
“Jackson has done nothing to rid Madison Square Garden of its institutional survivors who care far more about preservation than fostering a positive winning culture.
“Jackson has every resource available to recruit an elite coach and so far refuses to go outside his stable of either failed or unproven candidates. And that’s because this: in Phil Jackson’s Knicks’ world there’s only one untouchable… the triangle offense.”
That last tidbit may spell the death of Jackson’s tenure more than Melo’s no-trade clause.
After all this time, we still have no idea if he’s willing to live beyond the triangle. Is he so hell-bent on winning with it that he would, by extension, rather lose with it than win another way? If the answer is yes, it won’t be long before Jackson forces owner James Dolan’s hand.
Of course, Anthony’s no-trade clause is an important part of this, too. He has the right to veto any deal the Knicks bring before him. The list of teams he would accept a trade to is likely short. Too short. Shorter than it’s ever been.
Possible destinations like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets no longer seem as appealing, and they couldn’t offer much in a trade anyway. The Los Angeles Clippers would likely get Melo’s attention, but they have nothing to offer either—unless Doc Rivers loses his mind and dangles Blake Griffin. Could Melo be convinced to join LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers? And would the Cavaliers be willing to part with Kevin Love as part of that deal?
This is the issue. The Knicks shouldn’t be trading Anthony unless they get a monster return, but the chances of him being open to playing for a team that can give New York that monster return are beyond slim. So yes, it’s entirely possible, if not likely, that Melo, who can re-enter free agency in 2018, outlasts Jackson, who is roughly two years through a five-year deal, in the Big Apple.
