It's been a tumultuous time for New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, but with the franchise looking to hire Phil Jackson to control its basketball operations, the embattled coach believes the move will "enhance" his team.
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Woodson appeared on ESPN Radio and lauded the Knicks front office for making the move.
"I have a great deal of respect for Phil and what he's done over his coaching and his playing days in our league. He's been extremely successful," he told the affiliate. And if the Knicks are entertaining that, the guy's got a great basketball mind for the game. So I mean, it's all good."
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While an official announcement may not come until next week, many sources have reported that Jackson will finalize his deal to join the Knicks front office by the end of the week. Woodson was mum on how much he was informed on the members of Knicks brass' plans to land Jackson, but did compliment the former coach, who won 11 NBA titles as a coach and two as a Knicks player.
"At the end of the day we know it's out there, and like I said I've got a great deal of respect for Phil, and if the Knicks decide to go that route I think he can't do nothing but enhance the organization," Woodson said via ESPN. "But my focus right now is strictly on coaching and trying to figure out our team and try to get us into this playoffs."
The playoffs may be a pipedream for a Knicks team that is 26-40 and is in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, five games out of the loss column to the eighth place Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot, though they have won five straight games.
Woodson's job status has been a question all-season long and despite the fact that the coach is under contract through next season, the Knicks could fire him and search for a new coach this summer. There is the possibility that Jackson might want to bring in his own coach.
"If that time comes, if and when that time comes, I would just love the chance to sit with him and talk basketball," Woodson said via ESPN. "He's a basketball guy, I'm a basketball guy. This is 30 years I've spent in this league, so that's what we'll do. But until that happens, my focus is strictly on trying to get this team in the playoffs. That's it."
Another question mark heading into the summer is whether or not Carmelo Anthony will return to the Knicks or opt to leave through free agency. The NBA's second-leading scorer said that the Jackson hiring has no impact on his decision.
"I don't think it'll have any effect on me, just as far as what I'm thinking or my decision or anything like that," Anthony said, according to ESPN. "Like I said, I haven't talked to Phil yet, just to get his insight on a lot of things -- what's his plan, what's his future plan -- because everything's in his hands now."
It looks as though Jackson is headed to New York, however there are many more question marks beyond the front office heading into this summer.
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