With Phil Jackson as the Knicks president, he’s been bringing in and targeting a lot of people he already has a previous relationship with. From his coaching search to free agents, Jackson has targeted his former players. The latest buzz surrounds getting Pau Gasol.
via ESPNNewYork.com.
Sources told ESPN.com that Knicks officials, while not willing to trumpet it publicly with free agency fast approaching, are quietly confident about their odds of retaining Anthony thanks in part to the idea that new team president Phil Jackson and the high-scoring forward have “connected” to some degree.
Furthermore, one source close to the process told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne that Jackson is planning to make a determined attempt to try to recruit his former Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol to replace the freshly traded Tyson Chandler alongside Anthony on the Knicks’ front line, despite the fact New York is limited to offering Gasol less than $4 million for next season.
Call me crazy but ummm getting an aged and oft injured forward is the key to keeping Carmelo Anthony? I think not. Gasol does still have something left in the tank but not enough to provide the type of help the Knicks will need. Jackson is supposed to introduce a new regime but this follows the Knicks old protocol of going after major players once they’re on the downside of their career.
