Phil Jackson Ready To Listen To Raptors' Opportunity

[RealGM Wiretap]

Phil Jackson is prepared to listen to a pitch from the Toronto Raptors about taking a lead role in their basketball operations, but a source says that he wants to listen to options from other teams as well.

Jackson would prefer an advisory role similar to Jerry West's current position with the Golden State Warriors rather than a more active role similar to Pat Riley with the Miami Heat.

Multiple sources doubt whether Jackson would be satisfied by a position with the Raptors. A similar position with the Charlotte Bobcats was not initially appealing to Jackson.

Jackson would seek a situation where he can hire a head coach that would implement his vision.

Speculation that Jackson could end up with the Raptors increased with the hiring of Tim Leiweke, former CEO of AEG.

"He's very well-connected in the league and he has to rebuild that franchise," a league source said of Leiweke. "... He's about championships. They didn't just bring him in there to mind the house."

Via Ken Berger/CBS Sports

[15th overall]

Yea, right.

[arjay702]

Don't do it coach!

[mjd58]

I don't understand this phobia people project onto Phil Jackson.

Toronto is a top 5 media market in the NBA. As an entertainment city, only NY, LA and Chicago could legitimately be put ahead of it. Climate wise, Toronto is not essentially that much different from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland or Boston. So why exactly would Jackson have trouble going "up north"?

Typically, it's black American athletes that have a problem going to Toronto. Whether it's due to the different culture, or a supposed tax situation, it's only NBA players that complain about playing up North. MLB and NHL players, to my knowledge, don't make a big deal about playing in a "different" (If Toronto can even be imagined as "different" from any other major American city) country.

So I don't see how Seattle (a nice city, beautiful area, but less to do relative to Toronto) would be any more enticing than Toronto. And I don't see Phil Jackson, being an educated, cosmopolitan type thinker, would make too much about taking a job in another country. Culture wise, it's essentially the same. But, of course, there are probably those little differences here and there which might rankle him.

The only situations I can imagine would be more compelling to him are LA, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia...Big market cities, in short. And they aren't available.

We live in a increasingly globalized world. Yes, America is a great country, but American athletes need to get off their high horse and appreciate the value of other countries.

[Jeff Van Gully]

oh, he'll listen...

[Stylin_on_You]

Yea, right.

lol

Toronto has been plagued by bad management, that's why the stars that come there want to leave after awhile, and I can't blame them. With Phil Jackson's presence he could drastically change that.

[Stylin_on_You]

Toronto Raptors could of got James Harden for Valanciunas, I think that says it all. No need to make it a race thing with Black American athletes, how long are people gonna use that as an excuse. I've been hearing that for years.

[theman]

I don't understand this phobia people project onto Phil Jackson.

Toronto is a top 5 media market in the NBA. As an entertainment city, only NY, LA and Chicago could legitimately be put ahead of it. Climate wise, Toronto is not essentially that much different from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland or Boston. So why exactly would Jackson have trouble going "up north"?

Chicago,Detroit, Cleveland and Boston are not great free agent destinations. The other thing Toronto has going against it is... wait for it ... it is a foreign country. Sure it is attached but that still makes a difference in the players minds. It doesn't matter in hockey because they are European.

We know one thing for sure. Jackson will not be coaching Toronto.