The first question that comes to mind is who NBA commissioner Adam Silver would appoint as chaperone when Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss go out on a date.
ESPN.com is reporting that the NBA has set parameters of the relationship between New York Knicks team president Jackson and Lakers team president Buss, who just happen to be engaged.
"The Knicks' hiring of Phil Jackson is subject to the league's conflict of interest rules," NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN.com. "To avoid even the appearance of a conflict, we have addressed the issue with the Knicks and Lakers to ensure that the relationship between Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson will not affect how the teams operate."
Jackson accepted the Knicks role last week but has been dating Buss since 1999, when he took over as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN.com went on to report that former NBA commissioner David Stern engaged in several conversations with Buss about protocol when Jackson was being linked to jobs with the Toronto Raptors, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the potential Seattle ownership group that tried but failed to buy the Sacramento Kings.
Buss told ESPN she saw no potential pitfalls in the effect their relationship would have on their roles or the NBA as a whole because she is not involved in the basketball side of the Lakers business.
"There is an understanding all trades are approved by the NBA, and I don't anticipate any problem because I don't make the basketball decisions on behalf of the Lakers," said Buss, who has indeed previously ceded all basketball decisions to her brother Jim and team general manager Mitch Kupchak. "So I really don't see where there would be a conflict."
Her answer would appear to be genuine, considering that Jim Buss never consulted her when he was courting Jackson to return as Lakers coach in 2012, only to hire Mike D'Antoni while Jackson reportedly was contemplating an offer.
But to suggest that Jackson's job doesn't put their personal relationship in a somewhat awkward position would be foolish.
Do you think Phil Jackson's relationship with Jeanie Buss will have any effect on the Knicks or the Lakers or the NBA in general? Tell us @SportsWN.
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