Jackson says trade decision up to Melo, doesn't want Raptors to have good pick
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson took an opportunity Friday to speak with media about several items, including whether he intends to fulfill his contract with the team.
"I'm still in it," Jackson told reporters in Los Angeles, where the Knicks face the Clippers Friday and Lakers Sunday. "And I'm in it to win it."
Jackson's contract with New York runs until 2019. In his second full season in command, the team has made progress over last year's franchise-worst 17-65 record, but the squad has hit a rut after a stronger than expected start.
Related: Phil Jackson says Kristaps Porzingis has hit the rookie wall
Jackson replaced Derek Fisher with Kurt Rambis as head coach last month, while outside rumblings continue as to whether it's time for the organization and franchise player Carmelo Anthony (who turns 32 in May) to part ways.
While Jackson stressed that Anthony remains a cornerstone of the team, he also reminded people that any decision to move on initially rests with Melo himself. The 11-time All-Star has three years left on his contract after this season with an early termination option, but also holds a no-trade clause.
"That's entirely up to Carmelo," Jackson said. "That's in his lap."
He also said that he told Rambis when he took over that he hoped the team would make a postseason push, something that hasn't happened. The Knicks are 4-8 under Rambis and 12-21 since New Year's Day. Going into Friday's action they are seven games out of a playoff spot.
Still, Jackson insists the team play to win, if for no other reason that the Toronto Raptors hold their first-round pick, thanks to the Andrea Bargnani trade made before his tenure.
"We want to have momentum and we don't want Toronto to have a good draft pick," he said.