New York Knicks president Phil Jackson. (Photo : Getty Images)
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson had reportedly said that he is willing to trade before the deadline but that team leader Carmelo Anthony and super-rookie Kristaps Porzingis are both unavailable.
The 11-time NBA champion coach disclosed on Monday that they are "looking to improve this ballclub, there's no doubt," as per Newsday. He said that the management is aware that they have "some good guys" that are tradable while the team's chemistry is "pretty good".
Jackson also pointed out that "talent can still be better. It always can, so we're looking", insinuating that he had also been looking to test the trade market this season.
However, the four-time NBA All-Star Game head coach clarified that there are two players who are untouchable as far as trades are concerned: Anthony and Porzingis.
"We have a couple of players that probably are tabled, that we would say they are off the table for discussion. But like any team, looking to improve themselves, we are open to discussion," Jackson said.
On Carmelo, he said that he is the team's "leader", he is "on board" with their plans and direction, and that "he's going to move forward with this basketball club".
Meanwhile, on the 7-foot-3, 20-year-old Latvian, Jackson simply said "We like Kris. Everybody likes Kris."
As of the moment, reports are out that Jackson is more concerned about upgrading their starting point guard spot, which means that Jose Calderon's days as a Knick may be numbered. Well, then again, the 34-year-old Spaniard had been in trade rumors since last season and still he is the unquestionable starter of the now Kurt Rambis-led New York squad.
Some of the players Jackson was said to be looking at are Atlanta's Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder, Detroit's Brandon Jennings, and Memphis' Mike Conley.
Anthony, now 31 and on his 13th year as a pro, is certainly in a win-now approach to the game and should be happy with the current moves of Jackson, particularly the recent firing of ineffective head coach Derek Fisher before things get really bad.
ESPN noted that Jackson acknowledged that he "didn't have many attractive trade pieces" to begin with to try and make any impactful trades before Feb. 18.
"Do we sit in a really favorable spot? Probably not," said Jackson. "We don't have a tremendous amount of favorable trade items that are on our roster."
