- The Knicks have signed Mike Woodson to a multi-year extension to remain the team's head coach. While the team didn't announce the details of the contract, it is widely believed that the deal was for three seasons and totals around $10 million.
Under Woodson, the Knicks turned things around to grab the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they were manhandled in five games by the Miami Heat en route to elimination.
- ESPN's Bill Simmons reported that former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson had serious interest in the Knicks coaching job prior to the team extending Woodson's contract.
While Simmons said Jackson had been angling for the job, Knicks' owner James Dolan never seriously considered hiring the Zen Master due to the fact that he "didn't want any part of Phil Jackson, because Jim Dolan doesn't like people who think they're smarter than him" and because "Jim Dolan has a whole weird inferiority complex".
Unfortunately, neither of those two statements by Simmons surprise me and I find both to be totally believable.
I think that inferiority complex is why he refused to admit Isiah Thomas was killing the organization until it became too blatant to disregard any longer (more on Thomas in a minute). I think it's also why it'll be at least two more years before he admits that Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can't and probably won't ever mesh well together when they're on the court together.
- Knicks' shooting guard J.R. Smith was arrested early Friday by Miami Beach police because of a bench warrant that had been issued after he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license and skipped his court date last July.
"We're aware of it but it's a legal matter right now and I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment," GM Glen Grunwald said when asked about the arrest.
With Smith likely to opt-out of his current contract and try his luck on the free agent mark, having yet another run in with law enforcement is not going to do him any favors with potential suitors. Especially when he is reportedly trying to get every dollar he can on his next contract.
Grunwald was asked about Lin during the conference call regarding Woodson's contract extension and had this to say: "We're happy with our roster. We have two guards [Lin and Landry Fields] that are restricted free agents, so we will be able to retain them".
According to ESPN, because Lin is a restricted free agent and he has played only two seasons in the NBA, the Knicks can match any offer up to $5 million.
However, don't be surprised if someone offers a front-loaded deal to Lin in an effort to lure him away from Knicks and make it near impossible for the franchise to match the contract offer. With the Toronto Raptors being one of several teams rumored to have interest in Lin, Grunwald better not get over-confident in his team's ability to retain the Linsanity.
- I promised you all more Isiah Thomas and here it is: According to the man himself when talking to ESPNChicago.com, Isiah wants back into basketball after losing his job as head coach at Florida International University and he doesn't care whether is in the collegiate or pro ranks.
“I definitely want to be in basketball again whether it be coaching or as a general manager,” Thomas said by phone. “My gift is basketball. I would love working with the kids. If it’s the right college program, I would consider it. If it’s the right GM job or coaching job in the NBA, I would consider it. I love the game. I just want to be in the game."
When asked more specifically about returning to the New York Knicks, Isiah had this to say: “I have great friends in the organization,” said Thomas…. “The owner and I have a very good relationship. It’s an organization I will always root for and will always want them to do well because they’re all personal friends of mine.”
Before Knicks fans get too upset, keep in mind your team already has a GM and a brand new head coach/ And although Mike Woodson is friends with Thomas, he reportedly has absolutely no interest in bringing him onto his staff in any capacity. So breathe easy my friends.
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