Not all is well between Phil Jackson and his star Carmelo Anthony. Their next disagreement could be their last.
The New York Knicks coaching search is fast becoming a source of shame for the Knicks fans. As teams like the indecisive Sacramento Kings and frivolous LA Lakers have both made sound coaching choices and are now ready to build their rosters, the Knicks are still wallowing in uncertainty.
Some of the best candidates are gone but there are still good names on the market. Why the Knicks won't make a move when even the Brooklyn Nets have found their man is a question only Phil Jackson can answer.
However, even now, there are consequences with every move. In an extensive interview with veteran journalist Peter Vecsey, (h/t CBS New York) it was revealed that Carmelo Anthony has strong feelings for the candidate that Jackson is leaning towards, Kurt Rambis.
"That's the belief," Vecsey said. "The truth is Melo likes Rambis. I know that for a fact. He thinks he's a good guy, but he doesn't think he's the coach they need to go further than they are right now. He's not a good coach.
Vecsey added: "He couldn't coach a lick (in Minnesota). The mistakes he made, and the players used to mock him, the young players. ... If they hire Kurt Rambis, I'm sure Melo is going to demand to be traded."
Vecsey also dished on possible candidate Frank Vogel: "I'm going to throw up. Everybody's saying they've got to interview Vogel. Have they watched him coach? I don't care what he did with the team. He should have done better with what he had, but mistakes galore in every series that he coached. And you watch him this year - God, how many times did he give the ball with the game on the line to Monta Ellis and not to his star player?"
Carmelo Anthony has already mentioned his preference in a report. According to Marc Berman in the NY Post, Melo prefers David Blatt. Even though Blatt has had friction with close buddy LeBron James in Cleveland, Anthony is impressed by Blatt's international experience which he believed would be better for the Knicks' Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis.
Melo believes that Blatt will develop Porzingis quicker because of his "international touch." Also, Berman quoted his sources to point out that Porzingis was not happy with how Rambis used him in the latter's stint as interim coach.