ORLANDO, Fla. _ Phil Jackson was brought back to the Knicks to help change the culture and create a winning environment. That never happened, and Jackson is no longer team president.
The Knicks announced Wednesday morning that the two "mutually agreed to part company," ending Jackson's 3 {-year tenure. The Knicks said Jackson is leaving as team president, effective immediately.
"After careful thought and consideration, we mutually agreed that the Knicks will be going in a different direction," Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan said in a statement. "We wish him the best and thank him for his service to the Knicks as both a player and an executive."
The timing is odd with free agency beginning Saturday, but Jackson hasn't had the impact Dolan hoped when he hired him to run the basketball department in March 2014. In three full seasons as Knicks president, the team has gone 80-166 and missed the playoffs all three years.
Jackson, 71, has two years and $24 million remaining on his contract. General manager Steve Mills will "run the day-to-day business of the organization," Dolan said. Also, the team announced that former Raptors executive Tim Leiweke will advise and work with Mills on an interim basis.
Leiweke was the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which oversaw the Raptors. He hired Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, who reportedly is someone the Knicks are targeting to replace Jackson. Ujiri is under contract with the Raptors.
Others who could be considered include onetime Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy and former Cavaliers GM David Griffin, who helped assemble a team that went to three straight NBA Finals and won a championship.
Dolan reiterated what he said when he handed the reins over to Jackson and several times since that he's not going to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Knicks
"While we are currently evaluating how best to move forward regarding the leadership of the organization, I will not be involved in the operation of the team," Dolan said.
Dolan said in February in an appearance on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York Radio that he would honor Jackson's five-year contract. But a lot has changed since then.
Yahoo reported Dolan made the decision to move on from Jackson because he was concerned about the future of the franchise. Jackson has openly feuded with the team's two best players, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, and hasn't been able to turn the Knicks into a winning team.
A legendary coach who won a record 11 NBA championships with the Bulls and Lakers, Jackson was hired to bring stability to the organization and help create a winning culture. The Knicks have had three head coaches during Jackson's tenure, and Jackson has turned over the roster every season.
The Knicks begin summer league practice Wednesday in Orlando. Jackson didn't make the trip as the decision was made Tuesday.
"I had hoped, of course, to bring another NBA championship to the Garden," Jackson said in a statement. "As someone who treasures winning, I am deeply disappointed that we weren't able to do that. New York fans deserve nothing less. I wish them and the Knicks organization all the best _ today and always."
Another shortcoming of Jackson was he insisted his coaches run the triangle offense _ the system that helped him win those 11 titles _ even if it didn't fit the personnel or the coach's style.
Current coach Jeff Hornacek never played or ran the triangle before Jackson hired him last summer. Yet late last season, Hornacek said the triangle would be the Knicks' main system going forward. That will change now.
Jackson's insistence on the triangle offense didn't help the Knicks attract free agents, and his relationship with his two highest-profile players also hurt his perception around the league. Players took note of how Jackson treated Anthony and most recently Porzingis.
The Knicks have been trying to trade Anthony. Jackson has been public about his desire to have Anthony off the roster as the Knicks rebuild with young players.
During the season, Jackson essentially called Anthony a ball stopper and tweeted about an article that detailed why the Knicks haven't won with Anthony. After the season, Jackson said Anthony "would be better off somewhere else."
There were reports Tuesday that Anthony's camp tried to engage the Knicks in buyout talks, but that team officials weren't interested in that. Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract, which Jackson agreed to when he re-signed him in 2014.
Jackson's best move as president was drafting Porzingis with the No. 4 pick in 2015. But he recently fielded trade offers for the Latvian big man most view as the future franchise player of the Knicks.
Porzingis skipped his exit meeting with Jackson and other Knicks officials in April out of frustration with the direction of the franchise. The team hasn't had direct contact with Porzingis since then. He went back to Latvia to train.
In last week's lead-up to the draft, Jackson acknowledged the Knicks had been receiving calls and were listening to offers for Porzingis. Jackson said the Knicks "have to do what's best for our ball club." But in the end they held on to Porzingis.
Jackson was part of the Knicks' golden years as a player. He was a member of the Knicks' only two NBA championship teams in 1970 and 1973.
