James Dolan is leaving the New York Knicks' coaching search to president Phil Jackson and said that he's taking a hands-off approach when it comes to finding Mike Woodson's replacement.
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"I have not asked about the coaching search on purpose. I told [Jackson] I'm here for you if you need me; if you don't need me, that's fine, too. I've got a lot to do," Dolan said in an interview with WFAN on Tuesday afternoon.
Dolan, who was rumored to spoil the Steve Kerr deal for the Knicks when the TNT analyst signed with the Golden State Warriors to fill their head coaching vacancy, said he wasn't sure of the candidates that Jackson has selected to be the next coach and that he didn't know Jackson even spoke to Kerr initially.
Dolan did admit that Jackson eventually did consult him regarding contract negotiations for Kerr, to which the Knicks ended up offering four years and $20 million. Kerr signed with Golden State on a five-year $25 million pact instead. The Knicks have been linked to Oklahoma City guard Derek Fisher, but Jackson was also fined $25,000 for tampering with him.
Dolan also said he will be taking the same approach to Carmelo Anthony's free agency and leaving it up to Jackson.
"No. I made a commitment to Phil I was going to let him do it," Dolan told the station about helping Jackson reach a decision on Anthony. "Unless he asked me for help it's his to run."
Dolan, who also owns the New York Rangers, -- a team in the NHL's Stanley Cup Final -- compared the Jackson hiring to the employment of Rangers GM Glen Sather.
"Yeah, it wasn't like I'm looking for guys who have the championship as much as guys that were successful and had proven their ability to be successful. With both teams, I want somebody in charge who really knows what they're doing. This is not something I have any expertise in, [so I] don't want anyone who hasn't shown the ability to do it," he said.
The Knicks and Rangers owner also discussed putting effort into both teams.
"Well, it sort of depends on how they're doing and what they need," he told WFAN. "Both teams know that they have as much resources as I can possibly give them in order to be successful. So in that way they're definitely both treated equally. I will say the Rangers are probably a little easier because Glen's there. And you know, the Knicks have been not as easy; but I'm hoping they're going to be easier now."
It remains to be seen who the Knicks will bring in to guide the team after a disappointing campaign this year, but if Dolan's word is to be taken on its merit, the Knicks' owner won't have much of a say in what the team does.
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