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If the New York Knicks don’t advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, I’m hearing they’ll make a major — repeat, major — push to lure legendary coach Phil Jackson out of retirement. With money being no object, the scuttlebutt is the Knicks brass may offer the “Zen Master” a four-year, $50 million deal.

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Original source is someone named Gery Woelfel, but NBC decided to run with it.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/25/rumor-knicks-may-make-50-million-offer-to-phil-jackson/

If there's anyone that is worth it, it is him. He's proven he can walk into any situation where the talent is far superior to nearly anyone else, and proceed to maximize that potential.

I'd like to see what Phil could do with the Bobcats or Wizards. I think he's a great coach when he has the talent around him, but I'd like to see him coach up a less talented team like that.

I dont think Phil will get anywhere near the flustercluck that is Carmello.

You have Amare (who has been a super-selfish star), Carmello (who has been a super selfish star), Tyson Chandler (who is a great role player big man, but a 10 year veteran and a little on the injury-prone side) Jeremy Lin (an overrated psuedo-star that you can't bench) and probably no draft picks for the next decade.

I can't see Phil wanting to get into a team with one player that can play defense and a bunch of selfish/headcase players.

But if there were ever a reason to tarnish your legacy, $50mm is a pretty good one.

Couldn't you make similar hyperbolic statements about the Lakers team he took over? Kobe (super selfish star)... etc?

Possibly. But the first time he took over the Lakers, he was taking over a team with:
One of the best players ever.
One of the best young players in the league.
These two had major chemistry problems. Phil is the chemistry master
A great third scorer (Glen Rice)
Some great role players (Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry)

The Knicks don't really have the talent the 00 Lakers had. And the talent they do have are one-dimensional players, where Kobe and Shaq were both good defenders as well as scorers.

I don't see him taking that gig. That team as it stand right now, will not compete for a championship, not even if Phil is the coach.

Phil likes a challenge though. and he likes the big markets.

maybe his playing time as a Knick influences it?

The best comps for those Bulls and Lakers teams Phil took over by far would be Heat and Thunder. If healthy Phil could definitely build another 3peat at either place. Wait for the playoffs to end them let the bidding wars begin.

I saw an article recently from a New York columnist asking that if Tyson Chandler could inspire Dirk+spare parts to the Title, then why couldn't he do the same this year with Carmelo+spare parts? The expectations are high

think Soup nailed it. when your key guy is Amare, you aint winnin sheet.

hell, probably even applies to Melo too.

lol at Melo = Dirk

I think Phil's too smart to take that job.

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That team as it stand right now, will not compete for a championship, not even if Phil is the coach.

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Maybe, but I'd be interested to see it. Honestly, I think Pop has a better basketball mind that Phil, but the one thing Phil is clearly the best at is managing egos. I think he could probably get it done.
There is certainly enough talent in place to win in New York. It is just a matter of getting everyone on the same page, and Phil has been doing that his entire career. He truly is a Zen-master.