Phil Jackson said in a NY Knicks roster & rumors update that he has full control of the team, playing down reports that owner James Dolan has been making his own decision.
Jackson, who will be entering his first full season as team president, said in an interview that he would not have taken the job had Dolan declined to give him full authority.
The Hall of Famer said that if he wants to trade or sign a player, Dolan will not question or veto his decision because the team owner vowed to trust all the things that he wants to do for the Knicks franchise.
"I was point blank and honest with him and said, 'If I walk into your office or call you up on the telephone and tell you that I want to trade X player who's an All-Star or Y player who's the fans' favorite, if I think it's the right move, I want you to feel confident that I can do this, will you give me the liberty to do this?' And he said yes, and that's really the key," Jackson said via ESPN.
Jackson, who is looking to lead the Knicks to title contention, has already made roster moves this offseason. The Knicks acquired veteran players Samuel Dalembert and Jose Calderon in a trade that sent Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks, while also convincing Carmelo Anthony to sign a five-year deal with the club.
Anthony, who recently claimed that he decided to stay with the Knicks because he has unfinished business in New York, said in a recent NY Knicks roster & rumors update that he is excited to unveil the vaunted triangle offense to their fans. But the ace player also admitted that he is still adjusting to the new system.
"We haven't broken the tip of the iceberg as far as the offense goes for me," Anthony said of their new offense in a NY Knicks roster & rumors update via New York Post. "I'm still trying to see where the spots are on the court and get the timing down. That's going take time, but everyone felt a little more comfortable with the system. We'll get better day by day."
