Jackson offers ‘mea culpa’ for Knicks’ struggles
A humbled Phil Jackson took the blame for the Knicks’ woeful season, effusively praised Derek Fisher, and said that although he’s worried about the impact this campaign could have on free agents, he doesn’t think players will be deterred from joining them this summer.
Speaking for the first time since dealing J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert Monday for cap space, two trade exceptions and a second-round pick, Jackson said the right thing to do is “restart,” and that the rebuilding effort doesn’t necessarily mean going after the biggest star available.
The Knicks president also acknowledged that Carmelo Anthony’s left knee would “get better” with surgery, but he wants to try to play Thursday in London and in next month’s All-Star Game at the Garden.
Before the season, Jackson, a firsttime executive, said the Knicks could be a playoff team.
He said he has “lost some sleep” because he never anticipated the Knicks would be a franchise-worst 5-35, and that he would be active leading up to the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
“This is a mea culpa,” Jackson said before the Knicks were routed110-82 by Charlotte Saturday for their 15th straight loss. “I take responsibility for it. And the fans, I want them to leave Derek alone in this regard. He’s doing the best job possible. It’s not his fault.”
“Obviously I didn’t do the right thing in picking the group of guys that were here. A lot of it was etched in stone, we had guys with guaranteed contracts, but in anticipating that we were going to be better, that we were giving hope to our fans that maybe there’s a possible playoff opportunity here — that goes on me. We now have to take responsibility and move forward and make things happen, that also goes on me. Now, I have to do the job that I was brought here to do.”
Jackson said he has the full support of Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan and he’s letting him “go forward the way I see fit.”
“The reality is this is probably the best way to go about the business,” Jackson said.
“And to begin and to restart and to do it the right way and put it together in a way that really makes sense instead of bringing dominant people in to try and fit into this jigsaw puzzle makes it pretty difficult. We hope we’re on the right track even though this isn’t the track we anticipated.”
Jackson will try to make changes by the trade deadline that helps in the short- and long-term. The Knicks have seven players with expiring contracts. Jose Calderon and second-year guard Tim Hardaway Jr. could have some appeal.
But Jackson’s first deal — sending Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas for Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington and two second-round picks — hasn’t worked out as he expected.
“I just think that no one should be surprised at what we do from here on out,” Jackson said.
“We know that movement is going to happen and we might want to participate in it. We want to bring in five or six new players next year. We’d like to bring in players that we can build on and build with in this year, especially, not just have them all in one group. So we’re going to be active, open and selective.”
The Knicks still are expected to pursue All-Star calibre players in free agency — particularly 2016 when Kevin Durant is available.
Jackson said there’s some concern about getting the players they want. But he still expects the Knicks to be successful, and having a healthy and hungry Anthony will be a good selling point.
“We’re all worried about the fact that money is not going to just be able to buy you necessary talent,” Jackson said.
“You’re going to have to have places where people want to come and play. But I do think that New York situation holds a high regard in players and agents that have contacted us. We have no lack of agents that have contacted us for their players.”