Carmelo Anthony continues to speak up over the current state of the New York Knicks. The franchise star has already made it clear that he wants the organization extremely active in free agency in order to make necessary upgrades. Now, he is speaking out over the current state of coaching. The Knicks started the season with Derek Fisher. They will end the season with Kurt Rambis. Is Phil Jackson next?
When Jackson took over as team president, there were a lot of Knicks fans hoping that he would just eventually start coaching again. Sources began reporting on Tuesday that Jackson could begin coaching next season for the Knicks, but only during home games. Then someone like Rambis would coach on the road. Jackson is reportedly more energized these days after losing weight and is looking to get back on the bench. Anthony made it clear that is not happening.
"Phil ain't coaching no more, man,'' Anthony said. "Let's kill that rumor. Phil ain't coaching no more... Phil's cool. He doesn't need to be on the sideline anymore. He put so many years into the game. He doesn't need to be on the sideline. I don't think he's thinking about coming back on the sideline. I hope not."
If Jackson is not coaching the Knicks next season, then who will? Plenty of names have been tossed around as options. Tom Thibodeau is available. Luke Walton will get a lot of looks after he had success with the Golden State Warriors at the beginning of the season. Is Rambis an actual option? When Rambis took over for Fisher, Jackson told the media that he would get a chance to earn the job for the future. Anthony admits he is open to the idea.
"I think you consider Kurt at that job. He brought Kurt here for that reason -- if anything was to happen and the situation is here for him now," Anthony said. "I think it's just more of seeing how Kurt handles the situation right now, how the team does, how the team responds to Kurt. But I think you still have to at least listen to other candidates out there."
Anthony is certainly making a point to be more vocal about the state of the Knicks and where he wants to see the franchise go. For now, he is making it clear that he has no plans to waive the no-trade clause in his contract, but he wants the organization to make an effort to get competitive again. Kevin Durant, Al Horford and Mike Conley will be some of the free agent targets and the Knicks have the money to get at least one of them.
"It's in their court. The ball is in their court," Anthony said. "They have an opportunity, we have an opportunity to do something this offseason. We gotta do something. It's there."
