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SPORTS Thursday 23 February 2017
Nearly 3 years into the job, Jackson hasn’t fixed Knicks

BRIAN MAHONEY fused to distance himself round of the playoffs not
AP Basketball Writer from articles criticizing his even two years before
NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo best player and has largely Jackson was hired in March
Anthony had a half-season cut off communication be- 2014.
of clues about what Phil tween them — after saying Now all that’s left is Antho-
Jackson thought of him, when he was hired that he ny, and it certainly seems
and now it was his turn to planned to focus on “how Jackson wants him gone,
evaluate his boss. players are treated” and too. He would have to
Anthony had trumpeted “the kind of culture that’s find a workable deal, hard
his trust in Jackson when built.” Hall of Fame final- enough given the 32-year-
he re-signed in 2014 and ist Tracy McGrady told re- old Anthony’s salary and
reaffirmed it months later, porters this weekend he age, then get him to waive
even as Jackson contin- couldn’t remain quiet the the no-trade clause he
ued trading away key way Anthony has. gave Anthony when he re-
players from the best team “I’m not going to let you dis- signed him.
Anthony ever played on in respect (me) in the public’s In this June 3, 2016 file photo, New York Knicks president Phil If not, maybe Jackson him-
New York. eye like that,” McGrady Jackson, responds to questions during an NBA basketball news self would leave this sum-
Reminded of that recently said. “You’re not going to conference to announce the hiring of Jeff Hornacek as the head mer — though Dolan said
and asked if he still trusted be sending subliminal mes- coach in Tarrytown, N.Y. he had no indication that
Jackson, Anthony stopped sages about me like that Associated Press. was the 71-year-old Jack-
well short. and I don’t respond to that. this season). about how he would do as son’s plan. But he insists he
“I trust the process,” he I don’t operate like that. Dolan didn’t even express an executive with no ex- can’t coach for health rea-
said, mimicking Joel Embiid I’m just not going to do it. much disappointment in perience, and the answers sons and doesn’t appear to
of the Philadelphia 76ers. And then you hide and the results, even though haven’t been good. enjoy scouting and dealing
The process isn’t going well don’t do any media? You the Knicks had their worst He fired Mike Woodson and with agents, essential parts
for Jackson in New York. leave everything for me to season ever in Jackson’s replaced him with first-time of his job.
The Knicks are 23-34, 12th talk about? Nah, that’s not first season and are 72-149 coach Derek Fisher, who He must be disheartened
in the Eastern Conference cool.” Jackson retains the since the start of 2014-15. lasted just 1 1/2 years. Start- that the work he put into
and on pace to miss the support of Madison Square “He was the best guy we ers Tyson Chandler and this team hasn’t paid off.
playoffs for the third time Garden chairman James thought we could find to Raymond Felton were trad- Jackson hired Jeff Hor-
in Jackson’s three full sea- Dolan, who said in a recent run the New York Knicks,” ed in one deal, and J.R. nacek to open up the of-
sons as president of bas- ESPN Radio interview that Dolan said. Smith and Iman Shumpert fense after two years of his
ketball operations. He’s he would not fire Jackson Maybe if he’d been hiring went in another early the favored triangle, traded for
made his relationship with during the two-plus years Jackson to coach, as Jack- next season. They were all Derrick Rose, and signed
Anthony worse and hasn’t that remain on his contract. son’s 11 championships mainstays on the Knicks free agents Joakim Noah,
made the Knicks better, (Both sides have an option are a record for coaches. team that won 54 games Courtney Lee and Brandon
and a guy who could do to terminate the deal after But there were questions and reached the second Jennings. q
little wrong as a coach just
can’t get it right as an ex-
ecutive.
Maybe Jackson can swing
a trade to fix things before
Thursday’s deadline.
Or maybe he’ll just never
fix the Knicks.
If Jackson is planning any-
thing, it remains a mystery.
He hasn’t spoken to report-
ers covering the Knicks
since his preseason press
conference in Septem-
ber — backtracking from
his vow to be accessible
when he took the job —
and isn’t expected to be-
fore the deadline. He has
made only three postings
on Twitter all season.
Yet he’s still made plenty of
noise.
He angered LeBron James
by referring to his friends
and business partners as
a “posse” in an ESPN story.
And he upset some of the
league’s other power play-
ers with his actions toward
Anthony — which could
prove damaging when
trying to lure free agents.
Jackson has either ap-
peared to endorse or re-