NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Leaving Knicks After Steve Kerr Rejection? Phil Jackson Fails His First Acid Test--Should He Work With Melo For A Trade?

Phil Jackson was supposed to be the Zen Master, the man who could make things happen. With his first major move as Knicks President, he pursued Steve Kerr. He is someone whom nobody thought would say 'no' to Phil-until he did.

This was Phil Jackson's first acid test. It was supposed to be an easy one, and even the rival Golden State Warriors all but conceded and looked for someone else.

The offer was made more than a week ago. Did Phil give him too much time, too much leverage? Jackson was totally caught off guard. Was he wrong to declare Steve Kerr "the one and only choice" for the job?

It does show how much weight Phil Jackson's opinion has. Steve Kerr was nowhere near the top of the coaching candidates' list as he has ZERO coaching experience. Phil Jackson wanted him and three other teams were in hot pursuit-yet they all conceded that Kerr was Phil Jackson's man to lose.

Now the Zen Master has to pick up the pieces and move on. He has no Plan B, as we stated. How will this sit with Carmelo Anthony, the free agent that wants to win?

The implications were discussed in the NY Post: "But most telling - and troubling - aspect of all is this: The strongest part of Jackson's game, the thing that allowed everyone to overlook the gaping hole in his GM-free résumé, was it was believed - assumed - that by force of personality and sway of his 11 rings he would be able to coax, convince and connive enough talent to rebuild and reload the Knicks, the way his ancient rival, Pat Riley, did in Miami.

Bolstered by that hubris, he already has talked to Carmelo Anthony about taking less money to stay with the Knicks so Jackson can pad the roster with the extra cash as he hits the recruiting trail. That was an odd play anyway, never seemed remotely connected to logic.

And now that he has seen Jackson's first attempt at closing?

How's Anthony supposed to feel about that?"

The $60 million contract suddenly looks cheap considering the task beforehand. It would take a lot of humble pie, but maybe the best thing for Phil to do is take a step back, work with Melo to be in a winning environment that the Knicks could never be for now. That way, he can salvage some assets that the New York could never have.

The recent CBA took away the sign and trade benefit, but for Carmelo Anthony to break into a winning environment like the Bulls or the Rockets, a trade has to be in order.

There is still a lot of faith in New York for Jackson despite this blow, but Carmelo might not be one of his followers anymore.