Bringing Phil Jackson Into The Knicks Front Office Is Critical To Retaining Carmelo Anthony

Initial rumors revealed that the New York Knicks had conversations with 11-time NBA Championship coach Phil Jackson about taking over the coaching reins. He declined.

Phil Jackson may be key to keeping Carmelo Anthony in New York.

In a move that reveals the desperation of Knicks management or that owner James Dolan has finally acknowledged that he knows nothing about basketball, he followed up by offering Jackson the position of President of Basketball Operations. Jackson is thinking about it.

Phil Jackson would be in charge of all basketball matters for the New York Knicks, and most importantly, he would have final say over all basketball related decisions.

This especially means personnel and coaching decisions. Two areas that have been a very expensive problems for the Knicks.

The Knicks currently have the second highest payroll in the NBA while fielding an underperforming team that is 16 games under 0.500 but miraculously only 3 1/2 games out of the playoffs in the ridiculously weak Eastern Conference.

Their big off-season move was dealing Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, and a package of draft picks, including a future first rounder and 2 second round draft picks, for Andrea Bargnani.

Bargnani has been inconsistent offensively and insufficient defensively, just as he was in Toronto, and yet another high priced disappointment for the Knicks franchise.

Jackson, or anyone deciding to take on the leadership of Knicks basketball operations, will need to consider the enormous task of regaining financial flexibility, constructing a team of complementary talent, and recovering a future by acquiring draft picks.

A tall task for anyone, but Phil Jackson is one man who is up to a challenge. And he may hold the key to selling Melo on that future, as well.

Do you think Phil Jackson will sign on as President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks? And do you think Jackson can convince Carmelo Anthony to resign? Tell us in the comments below!