worst #KNICKSTAPE year ever?
With an NBA leading 15-game losing streak and the team in complete disarray, the head GM in charge spoke out and took full responsibility for all the New York Knicks‘ struggles this season. Phil Jackson delivered a message that should ring through angry fans leading up the All-Star game in the middle of February: It’s all his fault.
When the season started, Jackson really believed the Knicks were a playoff team, but things unraveled throughout the course of the year and they have started with a historic low 5-35 record.
Jackson doesn’t want anyone to blame Derek Fisher, because he’s been holding things together throughout adversity (Carmelo Anthony also echoes this statement), but the organization now has their sites on free agency and attracting top-flight talent to improve.
“This is a mea culpa. I take responsibility for it. 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 better, that we were giving hope to our fans that maybe there’s a possible playoff opportunity here, you know, 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.
The fans, I want them to leave Derek alone in this regard. He’s doing the best job possible. It’s not his fault.
We’re all worried about the fact that money is not going to just be able to buy you necessary talent. You’re going to have to have places where people want to come and play,” said Jackson, who signed a five-year contract worth a reported $60 million last March to serve as team president. “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. We still think that we have a really good chance to develop a team.”
After trading Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second round pick and trade exceptions, the rebuild process was underway and there is a chance the Knicks continue cleaning house. Tim Hardaway Jr., Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani might still be on the move before the trade deadline, as New York looks to tank for the rest of their time on the floor.
“Simply because we’re having a very difficult year doesn’t mean that that’s gone awry. Having Carmelo as a lead for us, a person who is interested in the advancement of our team and a guy who has been literally hampered this year by his physical setbacks really helps us because we know he’s going to have a better year. Recovery is going to be much better for him next year, and there’s a guy here in place who is ready to play and is a competitive player.”
Welcome to rock bottom #KNICKSTAPE.
OS REWIND: Knicks Deal J.R. Smith & Iman Shumpert to Cavs in 3-Team Deal with Thunder
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