NBA Rumors: Pau Gasol open to signing with New York Knicks
By Josh Hill
When the New York Knicks hired Phil Jackson to run their team, they knew what they were doing when it came to upping the appeal of the team to free agents. While New York is already a popular destination anyways thanks to being one of the most exposed markets in the country, the arrival of Jackson was also meant to make the Knicks a team free agents want to come play for.
So far, it hasn’t taken long for that to work. According to Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports, forward Pau Gasol is open to leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with Jackson in New York to play for the Knicks.
"Pau Gasol felt nostalgic in what he admitted might have been his last day with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. He’s also excited about his impending free agency and is open to a reunion with former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who now runs the New York Knicks’ front office."
This is exactly the reason the Knicks hired Jackson as Gasol is a player that could be amazing next to Carmelo Anthony, much like he was with Kobe Bryant all these years. Jackson is an expert at the sidekick game, as he’s always managed to find his superstar a side kick to help him flourish.
First there was Scotty Pippen, then Shaquille O’Neal (or Kobe Bryant, depending on what side you’re on) and then Pau Gasol. It appears that with Anthony being his new superstar, Jackson is going to double-dip on Gasol’s sidekick qualities.