Fansided

Phil Jackson admits he should have traded for Jae Crowder

By Brad Berreman

Dec 21, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. The Magic defeated the Knicks 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. The Magic defeated the Knicks 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phil Jackson has not delivered as New York Knicks team president, and he recently cited what he sees as his biggest mistake.

Phil Jackson brought obvious name recognition with him to the New York Knicks a little over two years ago. Thus far the results have not been good, including a 32-50 record last season and a coaching change. An active offseason has things looking up heading into next season, but Jackson has acknowledged what he feels is his biggest mistake thus far as Knicks’ president.

According to Charlie Rosen of Today’s Fastbreak, Jackson turned down the option to get Jae Crowder in the trade that sent center Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks in June of 2014.

"I think the biggest mistake I made was actually this…One of the first deals I engineered when I came back to New York was to trade Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas for Shane Larkin, Jose Calderon, Wayne Ellington, Samuel Dalembert, plus a second-round pick that the Mavs owed to the Celtics. In talking with Boston, I was given the option of taking that pick or else taking Jae Crowder. I liked Crowder but I thought he wouldn’t get much of a chance to play behind Carmelo, so I took the pick which turned out to be Cleanthony Early. While Cleanthony has missed lots of time in the past two seasons with us, he still has the potential to be a valuable player. Even so, I should have taken Crowder.“Anyway, for all of us, making mistakes are part of the learning process."

Crowder was traded to the Boston Celtics in the middle of the 2014-15 season, as part of the deal that sent Rajon Rondo to Dallas. In 2015-16 he had by far the best season of his career, averaging 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game while starting 73 games.

With the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to look back on trades and criticize missed opportunities. Failing to recognize Crowder’s potential is an oversight, with youth (26), a very reasonable contract and last season’s noted improvement as part of the picture. But whenever Jackson’s tenure as Knicks’ president ends, it’s hard to see failing to get Crowder in a trade being among his five worst mistakes.

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