Jackson remains unsure
Phil Jackson is still trying to decide whether he will return to coaching next season, and expects teams would want to hear from him by next month.
“I’ve not made up my mind. Coaching is an option,” Jackson told the AP in an interview Saturday, adding that while he had set no deadline for his decision, “by mid-June or by early June, people need to have answers.”
The former Los Angeles Lakers coach said he wouldn’t necessarily mind taking on a rebuilding job.
“The two teams I’ve been with have been relatively set. I was in Chicago as an assistant coach when they were rebuilding. The Lakers had to practically rebuild all the time. The changes we went through in the first three championships with the organization were probably more than we went through in Chicago.”
Jackson said there were obvious advantages if he were to return to the Lakers, but also some disadvantages.
“I have a family here. I have a relationship with Jeannie (Buss). There are a lot of positive things. There’s also a big negative about not being here last year and the experience that led to the change with the Lakers. There is also that overall feeling.”
Although Jackson had some critical comments about Kobe Bryant in a book he wrote after leaving Los Angeles, he said he’d have no difficulty working with the Lakers star.
“I think there is nothing but good feelings between Kobe and myself,” he said.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss said earlier this month that Jackson was on the short list of candidates for the team’s vacant coaching job. Buss said he believes Jackson wants to return to coaching, but maybe not this year. Jackson’s longtime girlfriend, Jeannie Buss, is the owner’s daughter and an executive with the team.
Jackson has also been mentioned in connection with coaching vacancies with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.
Celtics need facelift
It’s generally not the first thing to say about a team coming off a division championship and 45-37 record, but with any luck the Boston Celtics will be worse next season, or so said Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Of all the teams to bow out in the playoffs’ first round, Boston stands as the most complex study.
On one hand, the Celtics can bring back Antoine Walker at a reduced salary, milk another season out of Gary Payton and continue to masquerade Paul Pierce as a leader.
In the Atlantic Division, that could again be good enough for first place.
On the other hand, the Celtics could make a bold move by:
“Handing the keys to the offense to 20-year-old forward Al Jefferson, who seemingly is Zach Randolph without the attitude.
“Playing to the athleticism of Tony Allen and the savvy of Delonte West, rookie guards with potential.
“Getting a definitive read on youngsters Justin Reed, Kendrick Perkins and Marcus Banks.
That is where the Celtics stand today, in position to either forge a future or continue on the year-to-year plan of good, but not good enough.
Nets may deal
New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn last week left the door open to possibly dealing Jason Kidd, Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson in a bid to add needed bulk.
“You have to look at that, if it’s a really elite player,” Thorn told the Newark Star Ledger. “There are no other Shaqs out there. You’re not going to get a Shaq-terminator. You can’t find those. But one more guy would help us.”
The Nets are said to have their free-agent focus on Stromile Swift, Samuel Dalembert, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall and, possibly, Kwame Brown.
Around the league
Milwaukee will have $25 million in cap space this summer, thanks, in part, to Anthony Mason‘s contract finally coming off the books on July 1. The former Miami Heat forward counted $6 million against Milwaukee’s cap this season. … Much to the Kings’ chagrin, center Greg Ostertag said he plans to invoke his Sacramento option for $4.4 million next season.