Knicks president Phil Jackson could get fired by Wednesday

The New York Knicks are on the brink of firing Phil Jackson, the president of basketball operations, according to fresh reports. Jackson has over US$24 million (AU$31.6 million) left on the five-year contract he signed with the Knicks in 2014. Knicks owner James Dolan has a history of buying out contracts without much concern.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Jackson and Dolan met on Tuesday to talk about the possibility of parting ways. With the NBA Free Agency 2017 period getting underway Saturday, the Knicks would most likely elevate general manager Steve Mills until finalising Jackson's replacement. The report adds that Jackson's willingness to trade future franchise star Kristaps Porzingis, besides his publicly documented spat with Carmelo Anthony left Dolan with little option.

Phil Jackson fired by New York Knicks?

Wojnarowski wrote, "Dolan had become increasingly concerned about Jackson’s fitness for the job and the long-term prospects of success for the franchise, especially in the aftermath of Jackson entertaining trades for Kristaps Porzingis, the franchise’s 21-year-old burgeoning star, league sources told The Vertical."

The Knicks have maintained 80-166 regular season record since Jackson took over in 2014-15. They haven't made the postseason since the 2012-13 season. "His insistence on running the triangle offense has alienated players and turned off potential free agents, and Jackson has struggled to connect with the two head coaches that he’s hired on the job, Derek Fisher and current coach Jeff Hornacek," The Vertical adds.

Last month, reports surfaced that several marquee free agents decided against considering New York as an option, primarily due to Jackson's spat with Anthony and his insistence on running the triangle offense. During his exit interview, Anthony went as far to suggest that Jackson was trying to push him out of the team.

“I’ve come to grips with that (I am gone from New York). I had times to think about that over how many weeks it’s been, trying to utilise time to clear my mind and be at peace with it -- our situation. I think about it all. I think about here. I think about it. The postseason. My teammates. I think about everything. At the end of the day, it’s on me," Anthony said, hoping to end his career on a positive note.