Stephen A. says Lamar Odom ‘on crack’ when Knicks signed him (Video)

Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back when assessing Phil Jackson’s qualities as a GM during First Take on Thursday.

Stephen A. Smith is well-known for his, um, enthusiastic opinions, and the ESPN talking head and Knicks fan has been given plenty of fodder since the NBA season ended by the decision-making of New York GM Phil Jackson.

In particular, the news Jackson is fielding trader offers for the Knicks’ best player and only meaningful asset, Kristaps Porzingis, has pushed Jackson’s already-unflattering reputation reputation as a GM to the brink.

Whether the Knicks actually end up trading Porzingis seems almost immaterial at this point, given the anger this news has already elicited among Knicks fans. They want Jackson gone, before he can do any more damage to their team.

Steven A. is a Knicks fan, and so it’s no surprise the events of the past week had him struggling for words, but the exact words he chose were nonetheless shocking.

“His very first move as the executive was to sign Lamar Odom,” said Smith, ” … who was on crack.”

In Jackson’s defense, which he might not deserve, the move made sense at the time. The Knicks needed a body in the front court that could score, and Odom had provided that when he was still with the Lakers. That, added to Jackson’s prior relationship with Odom, made the move understandable, if not exactly smart.

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Then again, if Jackson’s decision to sign Odom was understandable, Steven A.’s exasperation is the most relatable reaction of all time. New York fans have had enough of the organizational incompetence preventing their team from competing.

The Knicks are so notorious now even young prospects are hoping to avoid playing their home games at Madison Square Garden. We’ll all know a lot more by the time the Draft is over Thursday night, but for now we might at least enjoy Steven A.’s total bemusement.