RUMOR: Phil Jackson

[TylersLakers]

I suspect this will be an ongoing topic for the next 100 years and it looks like it's really picking up steam now.

Golden State assistant Luke Walton is closest to a legitimately coveted candidate with ties to Jackson and the triangle – and he's still largely unproven, too. Walton intrigues Jackson, but truth be told: Why would Walton come East without an assurance Jackson is committed to the long run in New York? There's still a strong belief Jackson will eventually find his way to his fiancée Jeanie Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/if-phil-jackson-doesn-t-want-to-coach-the-knicks--he-ought-to-let-someone-else-061839486.html

Good article from Wojnarowski.

My thoughts: Don't want him. Would rather we just get Jim Buss out of personnel and let Mitch control everything.

[The Prodigy]

Bringing Phil back would be yet another instance of the Lakers looking backwards instead of looking forward. It's time to take things in a whole new direction, which should not include Phil Jackson.

[Slava]

yeah Frank Isola had the same opinion too.

Walton has a history with Jackson and can run his – cue the angels singing – triangle offense.

This reunion could happen. Maybe in New York but don’t ever rule out Los Angeles. As in the Lakers.

Jackson has an opt-out clause in his contract this summer that could make him a free agent and available to return to what he really loves; the Lakers, his beach house and Jeanie Buss. Not necessarily in that order, of course.

Jackson and Walton in L.A. sounds about right.

NYDN

If true, this probably sets up a power struggle between Jeanie and the rest of the siblings as Jeanie has the executive power to do what she pleases but the ownership can oust her with the collective majority vote.

[Jody Smokz]

Why is it assumed that Jim makes all these terrible decisions and Mitch doesn't. Hasn't it already been explained that Mitch is mostly the brains behind the basketball moves?

Let's just entertain the BS rumor that Jim is terrible and Mitch is being held back. What does that say about Mitch? Who would willingly stay in a position where they were muffled from being successful when they have other options?

Perception is everything. Jim looks like a dufus and Mitch comes off as cold and calculated so I understand why people think this way but in reality Mitch is the one that refused to trade Pau and make other quality moves for this team. He's the GM right?

I suspect this will be an ongoing topic for the next 100 years and it looks like it's really picking up steam now.

Golden State assistant Luke Walton is closest to a legitimately coveted candidate with ties to Jackson and the triangle – and he's still largely unproven, too. Walton intrigues Jackson, but truth be told: Why would Walton come East without an assurance Jackson is committed to the long run in New York? There's still a strong belief Jackson will eventually find his way to his fiancée Jeanie Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/if-phil-jackson-doesn-t-want-to-coach-the-knicks--he-ought-to-let-someone-else-061839486.html

Good article from Wojnarowski.

My thoughts: Don't want him. Would rather we just get Jim Buss out of personnel and let Mitch control everything.

[Jody Smokz]

I love Phil but if the rumors about why he fired Fisher are real why would you want him here? We don't have Shaq and Kobe, we dont have MJ/Pip or Black Mamba and Pau. That has been the foundation of his success. What does Phil bring to the table outside of coaching that is going to mean success? This team really needs to move ON from the past.

[gts1]

After all Dr. Buss did to purge Jackson and his minions from the organization I can't believe he'd be brought back but who knows... I like Jeanie but this relationship with Jackson could compromise her position that she needs to be careful of...

[NBAWestFan]

No to a 70 year Phil. He has been great and can advise but at that age
he needs a naps and the Lakers future is young.

Luke Walton would be perfect. He has the BBall IQ and has recently
been in a winning team.

I think he should be brought in.

[iamworthy]

Luke would have to be pretty dumb to agree to coach the lakers while forced top run the triangle for Phil. If I'm Luke the only way I'm working under Phil is if I can run the team as he sees fit. We need forward thinkers not Phil's triangle. I already hate the fact that D'angelo dribbles down the court then passes to someone at the top of the key, then sits in the corner. Clearly that's not taking full advantage of his abilities.

[ak7]

The thought of DLo in the triangle makes me want to trade him for Kyle Korver.

[scoobs07]

The thought of DLo in the triangle makes me want to trade him for Kyle Korver.

It would take away a lot of his assists. But his shooting ability and size is a real asset in the triangle. If we get Ben Simmons, Russell could be in a Kerr/Fisher type role, but a lot better than those guys ever were.

[ak7]

Making DLo a one pass and go stand in a corner player would be the legitimate worst case of wasting a player's basketball ability in the history of the NBA.

[Kilroy]

The only role Phil could reasonably do in our org other than coach or consult, would be Pres of BBall Ops... Phil is not the guy you want at GM, because he's not the negotiator Mitch is, and I can't see him being good at that job.
And I can't see Mitch staying if Jeanie brings Phil in to be his boss, which is what Phil wants and the only way he'd come.

So it won't work IMO, nor would it be good for the Org... Moreover, I'm almost convinced this is all being leaked by Phil... Maybe to drive up extension negotiations? That might be why he fired Fish too... Phil is one Machiavellian sob when it comes to dealing for his own contract... So nothing would surprise me.

[ArC_man]

Woj and Isola have no sources within the Lakers, this is just Phil trying to weasel his way back to LA after seeing the great position we're in.

[djericho]

Woj and Isola have no sources within the Lakers, this is just Phil trying to weasel his way back to LA after seeing the great position we're in.

Agreed. I was more sold on Phil while Kobe was viable as a player, now with the core being DLo, Jordan, Russell and Nance Jr, need a coach that would at very least get these guys in a better defensive set get these guys in transition to do their thing and get some easy points, and I think that's someone in the Popovich coaching tree, not Phil's... you'd figure a Zen master would be flexible to see it that way...

[Marionettetc]

Despite the faltering of the triangle offense in every situation implemented outside of Jordan's bulls and Kobe's Lakers, I think it could be feasible for the modern day Lakers.

As much as I'd want Phil to replace Jimmy in any sort of basketball capacity, the triangle would only work with years of advance planning, and not the way the team has been drafting or signing free agents.

In any event, I'd rather see whatever Phil could get done than whatever the hell Jimmy and Chaz are doing.

[rzzzzz]

Phil got his big. Maybe not the one he was aiming for, but despite hitting the rookie wall a little, KP sure looks like the real deal. Melo for the time being. Let's see if that's enough to lure anybody. (Luke makes sense.)

[gts1]

Despite the faltering of the triangle offense in every situation implemented outside of Jordan's bulls and Kobe's Lakers, I think it could be feasible for the modern day Lakers.

As much as I'd want Phil to replace Jimmy in any sort of basketball capacity, the triangle would only work with years of advance planning, and not the way the team has been drafting or signing free agents.

In any event, I'd rather see whatever Phil could get done than whatever the hell Jimmy and Chaz are doing.

I think you're making the triangle out to be much more than it is. It's movement and spacing and can take many forms. It's not some mythical system that takes years to implement.


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[Marionettetc]

Despite the faltering of the triangle offense in every situation implemented outside of Jordan's bulls and Kobe's Lakers, I think it could be feasible for the modern day Lakers.

As much as I'd want Phil to replace Jimmy in any sort of basketball capacity, the triangle would only work with years of advance planning, and not the way the team has been drafting or signing free agents.

In any event, I'd rather see whatever Phil could get done than whatever the hell Jimmy and Chaz are doing.

I think you're making the triangle out to be much more than it is. It's movement and spacing and can take many forms. It's not some mythical system that takes years to implement.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Either it is only successful with HOF players, or it only succeeds with the appropriate role players. Out of the two possibilities, I think the latter is a lot more likely.

[Mirjalovic]

The thought of DLo in the triangle makes me want to trade him for Kyle Korver.

what's wrong with that ?

he will play in Kobe's role, not Derek Fisher.

[gts1]

The thought of DLo in the triangle makes me want to trade him for Kyle Korver.

what's wrong with that ?

he will play in Kobe's role, not Derek Fisher.

Nothing would be wrong with it... GSWs are running a hybrid form of the triangle now.. Curry seems to be doing just fine

Triangle can be tweaked to take advantage of your greatest strengths and mask your weak points. The version ran with the Bulls was different than the variation ran with Shaq and Kobe which was different than the version ran with Kobe and Pau...

Seeing how no point guard other than Payton ever led a PJ coached team in assists a player like Russell who is more shooting guard than point guard at this time would probably flourish in the system... I could see Russell Randle and Clarkson all doing well in the system IF they all embraced it... Randle would have to improve his passing out of the post but Nance would thrive if they emphasized back door cuts... A consistent corner 3 man would be a big bonus