NBA Rumors: Knicks’ Phil Jackson spoke to Derek Fisher Wednesday
The New York Knicks have as many questions as any team this offseason.
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Their biggest question is obviously the future of forward Carmelo Anthony. Anthony can opt out of the final year of his deal. Knicks’ president Phil Jackson has asked Anthony to think about opting in and Anthony may do that (he has until June 23 to decide). If he doesn’t, he will become an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks are also desperately trying to trade into the first round although they have no picks.
The Knicks also need to find a coach and many believe Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher is now the front-runner for the job. According to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Jackson and Fisher spoke on Wednesday.
"New York Knicks president Phil Jackson and his top coaching candidate, Derek Fisher, talked briefly on the telephone Wednesday and plan to reconvene next week, league sources told Yahoo Sports.Jackson expressed his desire to engage Fisher in talks to become the Knicks coach, sources said. Fisher is expected to take the weekend to talk with his family and make a final decision about retiring from his 17-year NBA career in order to fully pursue coaching, league sources told Yahoo Sports.Fisher has been leaning strongly toward ending his playing career, and should that be his final decision, he’s expected to move forward with more substantive talks with Jackson next week, sources said."
Fisher has obviously never been a head coach, but has been one of the league’s most respected players for years and served as the NBA Players’ Associated President. Fisher has averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game over the course of his 18-year career.