NEW YORK (AP) — James Dolan says he won’t fire Phil Jackson or stand in the way
if the Knicks president wants to trade Carmelo Anthony.
Dolan said Friday during an ESPN Radio interview that Jackson will be allowed to
finish the remaining 2 1/2 years on his five-year contract if he chooses. Either
side can opt out of the deal after this season, but Dolan says he won’t.
The Madison Square Garden chairman says the 71-year-old Jackson deserves more
time to improve the team, which has missed the playoffs the previous two years
and entered its game against Denver with a 22-32 record. Dolan says he promised
Jackson full autonomy when he hired him and plans to honor his commitment to
stay out of the way.
That includes with Anthony, whom Jackson has been critical of this season. Dolan
wouldn’t say if he hoped the Knicks would keep Anthony because “that’s meddling
with Phil. That’s telling him how to do his job and I’m not going to do it.”
