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The New York Knicks will reportedly “part ways” with Phil Jackson after a turbulent tenure for the former champion, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Given that the Los Angeles Lakers won five titles with Jackson as coach and team president Jeanie Buss has spoken multiple times about how much she disapproved of former vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss’ decision to not re-hire him in 2011, it’s only natural to connect the two sides now that Jackson is free. So should the Lakers try to find a role for Jackson?
No. No they should not.
For reasons why, between his fielding trade offers for the Knicks’ only valuable asset (Kristaps Porzingis) over exit meeting-related pettiness to the way he thoroughly owned himself by giving Carmelo Anthony a no-trade clause that he now lost a power struggle over wanting to buy him out of, Shelburne’s piece offers a multitude of reasons why the Lakers should be staying far away from bringing Jackson back.
This was obviously going to get suggested by some fans and/or media at some point, but sometimes you can’t go home again.
Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.