By: Kylan Watson
On Friday, April 14th, 2017 New York Knicks, President of Basketball Operations, Phil Jackson held a press conference after a tough season for his Knicks. Jackson, made it clear that he does not want star Forward Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks. Jackson changed tactics this time instead of saying he did not want Anthony on his team anymore, Jackson used a new strategy. He tried to use Anthony’s thirst for a championship to get him to leave New York. He must be suffering from some form of amnesia or early onset dementia. Jackson must have forgotten, that he was the one who signed Anthony to that five-year deal and gave him that no trade clause in his contract. Anthony holds all the cards, and Jackson needs to admit, that his poor record as an executive has doomed the Knicks.
During the press conference, Jackson continued his verbal war of words with Anthony. Jackson said, “…And I think the direction with our team is that he is a player who will be better off somewhere else and using his talents somewhere where he can win or chase that championship.” (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-phil-jackson-says-carmelo-anthony-will-be-better-off-somewhere-else/, 4-14-17). Jackson knows that Anthony is the only player from his draft class that does not have a championship. Anthony’s draft class includes Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron James. Anthony has wasted six-years of his playing career with the Knicks. Anthony decided to chase dollar signs instead of rings. Anthony has been paying for his decision ever since. However, Jackson has been a horrible executive, he has traded JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavaliers and other than drafting Kristaps Porzingis, has not done much to get Anthony some help. The Knicks are currently suffering from a four-year playoff drought. Jackson has done his best to blame Anthony for everything that is wrong with the Knicks, but eventually the attention will be on Jackson’s horrible tenure as the President of the Knicks.
Jackson ran Anthony over with a bus, and then backed the bus up and ran Anthony over again. During the regular season, Jackson has been trying to get rid of Anthony, he has taken shots at Anthony on Twitter, and used news media outlets to put pressure on Anthony. Nothing that he has tried has worked. Carmelo Anthony may love New York, but Anthony needs to get out of New York. It is obvious that Jackson does not want him there, and somewhere in Anthony’s mind he must be tired of losing. It is time for Anthony to get out and tell Jackson to stop messing with his Zen, and make a move that would benefit all parties.
