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Knicks Yet To Seek Permission To Talk To Ujiri; Dolan Now Front And Center Again

The Knicks reportedly are interested in having Raptors President Masai Ujiri fill the same role vacated yesterday by Phil Jackson, but they "haven't approached MLSE for permission to talk" with Ujiri yet, according to Michael Grange of SPORTSNET.ca. A source yesterday said, "Don't even waste your time on this." However, another source said, "This is not fake news, the Knicks will be coming hard." Grange noted Ujiri did not formally address the rumors yesterday while introducing Bobby Webster as the Raptors' new GM, but the longer he waits before "quashing the speculation firmly and publicly the more credence to those who figure he’s at least interested enough to listen" (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/28). TSN.ca's Josh Lewenberg noted Ujiri was linked to the position last spring when the Knicks were "allegedly tiring of Jackson," and MLSE in turn extended Ujiri contract. That deal "came with a substantial pay raise and one that will keep him under contract with the Raptors for an additional four years." MLSE was not willing "to let him walk out the door then and it's highly unlikely they feel any different" now. MLSE has the "means and the motive to do whatever it takes in an effort to keep Ujiri happy." The company has been "good to him, both personally and professionally, and the two parties have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship since Ujiri was recruited from Denver" in '13 (TSN.ca, 6/28). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes MLSE is "quietly projecting confidence that Ujiri won’t leave, but that’s either overconfidence or naiveté." Ujiri is believed to be paid "top-five money" among NBA team execs, and MLSE "supports his work with Giants of Africa, which is as dear to his heart as anything." But the organization needs to decide "how far it is willing to go to keep a star executive" (TORONTO STAR, 6/29).

DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP: ESPN's Brian Windhorst said that Ujiri going to the Knicks "is not going to happen." Ujiri is the "most popular executive" in Raptors history, and he is "under long-term contract." Windhorst: "For the Knicks to get him out of Toronto, the starting asking price might be two first-round picks. I don't care if you are trying to go for Red Auerbach, you don't do that if you’re a rebuilding franchise" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/28).
The N.Y. Daily News' Stefan Bondy noted if the Knicks want Ujiri, they "would have to give up probably  ... either first- or second-round draft picks to get Masai into the fold." Bondy: "I know that Dolan loves him. Dolan has wanted him for a long time. He’s always willing to pay the price when he targets his man” (“Daily News Live!” SNY, 6/28). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said Ujiri "would be perfect for the Knicks." Schein said if Knicks Owner James Dolan "would hire Masai Ujiri and let him do his thing, that would be great for the Knicks organization” (“Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 6/28).

CLOSING THE ZEN GARDEN: In N.Y., Mike Lupica writes this is the "merciful end for the Jackson era at the Garden." He ended up being a "worse basketball executive" for the Knicks than Isiah Thomas (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/29). ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor writes Jackson "never did the legwork, the scouting, the recruiting, all the things" Jerry Krause and Jerry West "did for him" with the Bulls and Lakers, respectively. The NBA changed "too fast for Jackson, and he never showed any desire to catch up" (ESPN.com, 6/29). CBSSN's Schein said Jackson was "clueless and lazy and ill-prepared and totally inept.” Schein: “He didn't put the work in. He didn't put the time in. This was clearly ... a money grab for Phil Jackson, and he acted like it" ("Time To Schein," CBSSN, 6/28). .The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Ben Cohen notes Jackson was the "rare executive in the NBA today who publicly criticized his best players." Other players around the league have "noticed the way Knicks players were treated ... and New York has become an unpopular destination among free agents." Jackson was "famous for playing mind games with his players" as a coach, but that approach "doesn’t work" as an exec. Not winning "was one thing," but being "trolled by the boss only made the losing worse" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/29). USA TODAY's Sam Amick writes Jackson's "inane insistence on being outspoken" against players like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James did "immense damage to the way the franchise is viewed by the player community" (USA TODAY, 6/29). In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro writes Jackson's departure on the eve of free agency is "one more reminder of the abject failure of Jackson’s time here: not only didn’t he sign any first-rate free agents, he could almost never even get a meeting with any of them" (N.Y. POST, 6/29). 

Dolan skipped last week's NBA Draft so he could play a gig with his blues band
DOLAN FRONT AND CENTER AGAIN: In N.Y., Frank Isola writes all Jackson did was "provide cover" for Dolan. The more "dysfunctional the Knicks became, Jackson, not Dolan, took the hit." However, it "reached the point where Dolan had to do something," especially with F Kristaps Porzingis "staging a silent protest in Latvia and Carmelo refusing to waive his no-trade clause." Dolan "liked being hailed as the hero for hiring Phil," but the more the Knicks lost and the more Jackson "demonstrated that he didn’t have the chops to be a successful executive, Dolan started to look like an uncaring owner more interested in his blues band than his awful basketball team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/29). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay wrote Dolan is now "back in the muck." Jackson provided Dolan a "safety valve," as the Knicks "were Phil’s team." Dolan now has to "put down the blues guitar and get right back in it" (WSJ.com, 6/28). SNY's Jon Hein said, "You have to respect the fact that Dolan was going to stay out of this and let Phil do whatever he needs to do. ... He just got tired of all of the lack of decisions that were being made and lost confidence that Phil Jackson can renew this team” (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 6/28).

SAME AS IT EVER WAS? SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote the Knicks after getting rid of Jackson in theory "can just move forward like a normal team." However, they are "still owned" by Dolan, who is "always out there looming." He is the "common denominator of all these chaotic Knicks eras." Firing Jackson "isn't going to change that" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 6/28). FS1's Colin Cowherd said, "This is not a well-run franchise. As much as we bang on Phil Jackson today, they were a mess before Phil Jackson. ... The heart of the issue is ownership" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 6/28). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan wrote one good decision does "not a smart resume make." In Dolan’s world of "ego and myopia, the next bad decision has always been lurking right around the corner" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 6/28). ESPN's Jemele Hill noted Dolan has "already made a lot of bad decisions." Hill: "Do you really trust them to make the appropriate decision?" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/28). ESPN's Pablo Torre said Dolan "has the toxic touch to him where everything he gets in contact with falls apart" ("SportsNation," ESPN, 6/28). THE UNDEFEATED's William Rhoden wrote Dolan’s moves have "little to do with basketball" but instead have "everything to do with drama, with keeping fans tuned in." Dolan’s Knicks are "run like a made-for-TV drama, replete with cliff-hangers, nail-biters and next episodes" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 6/28). THE VERTICAL's Chris Mannix wrote Dolan's "obsession with winning the press conference trumped any understanding of what it took to win games." Mannix: "No number of altercations with Knicks legends will ever force NBA commissioner Adam Silver to consider attempting to yank Dolan’s team away from him," as he is "too powerful, and the NBA’s appetite for that kind of fight is nonexistent." However, now that the Jackson era is over, the Knicks "reign as the NBA's biggest sideshow could roll along, indefinitely" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/28).

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