Botched coaching moves, ill-fitting trades, odd draft picks — Isiah Thomas and Phil Jackson have plenty in common. As another trade deadline passes — this one quietly for Jackson and the Knicks — we break down the moves, most of which backfired, by the two executives.
Phil Jackson
Just over a month into the job, he fires Mike Woodson, and replaces Woodson with Derek Fisher, his former player who had never coached at any level before, giving Fisher a whopping five-year, $25 million contract. And Jackson canned him halfway into his second season, replacing him with Jeff Hornacek, who has yet to make any significant changes to the team’s shoddy play.
Isiah Thomas
He changed coaches five times in his five-year tenure running the Knicks, firing coaching legends Lenny Wilkens and Larry Brown — neither coached for more than one season — only to coach the team himself his last two years in charge, going just 56-108 in that time.
Phil Jackson
Kristaps Porzingis is Jackson’s saving grace, the fourth overall selection in the 2015 draft. He also made what is looking like a shrewd move in the second round of that draft, trading second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts to the 76ers for the rights to Willy Hermangomez, who might be a keeper. Otherwise, Jackson’s picks have been shaky: second-round picks Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo in 2014, Jerian Grant (first round) in 2015.
Isiah Thomas
He made some solid picks, like Trevor Ariza in the second round of the 2004 draft, David Lee in the first round of the 2005 draft, and Wilson Chandler in the first round of the 2007 draft, but also plenty of questionable ones. At the top of the list were Renaldo Balkman in the first round in 2006, and Channing Frye with the eighth overall pick in 2005. Thomas passed on Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry in 2006, going with Balkman instead.
Phil Jackson
The Cavaliers may not have won it all last year if not for Jackson. Sending Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to Cleveland for Lance Thomas and a 2019 second-round pick last January was mocked in league circles. His other big move came last June, dealing Jose Calderon, former first-round pick Jerian Trendbet Grant and Robin Lopez to the Bulls for Derrick Rose, Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick.
While Holiday is a young player with upside, Rose has been a poor fit, a shoot-first point guard who plays little defense. Jackson’s best trade was a small one in July 2015, a sign-and-trade with the Magic for Kyle O’Quinn, who has emerged as a quality reserve, and one of the team’s best rebounders and defensive players.
Isiah Thomas
His trade for Eddy Curry in October 2005 will live in infamy, dealing two unprotected first-round picks in exchange for the underwhelming Bulls center. The picks were later used on a pair of future all-stars: LaMarcus Aldridge and Joakim Noah. His other costly trade was the Stephon Marbury gamble, bringing the Brooklyn phenom and Penny Hardaway in for a 2004 and 2010 first-round draft pick (it would be used on all-star Gordon Hayward) among other pieces. Marbury never came close to realizing his potential (until he got to China), helping to create a divisive atmosphere in the locker room, without the on-court payoff.
Phil Jackson
Jackson has made several notable signings, but few that have had the impact desired. This past offseason, he inked Noah in the twilight of his career to a four-year, $72 million deal and gave useful shooting guard Courtney Lee a four-year, $48 million deal. Neither has played up to expectations, Noah often hurt or ineffective and Lee inconsistent. However, they are working out better than the moves of the previous offseason, giving Arron Afflalo and Kevin Seraphin a combined $10.8 million. His biggest move was re-signing Carmelo Anthony to a five-year, $124 million deal with a no-trade clause, another move that hasn’t panned out. While Anthony has put up gaudy numbers, the Knicks haven’t sniffed the playoffs since he re-upped.
Isiah Thomas
His two biggest signings were Jared Jeffries and Jerome James, players he gave the full mid-level exception to, but who never panned out. They were both injury-prone, and produced very little. James was by far the worse of the two, the Knicks giving him a five-year, $30 million deal, and getting almost nothing of that investment in return. James appeared in just 90 games over four seasons, posting anemic numbers.
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