Carmelo Anthony Welcomes Phil Jackson Hiring

Carmelo Anthony Welcomes Phil Jackson Hiring (Photo: Keith Allison)

New York, NY

Carmelo Anthony expressed excitement over Phil Jackson's hiring as president of the New York Knicks, describing it as a "power move".

"I'm a chess player. That was a power move right there. You know what I mean?" Anthony said. "So, now we're going to see what's the next move, but that was a great power move."

According to sources, Jackson signed on to become the newest president of the Knicks after a lunch meeting with team officials.

Jackson signed a five-year deal that will pay him $12 million annually. It does not include an ownership stake, sources said.

One of Jackson's first major decisions with the team will be how to deal with Anthony, who is expected to test free agency this summer.

Anthony can sign a deal with the Knicks that is one year longer and worth $33 million more than any pact he can sign with another team.

The star forward has said his first priority is to re-sign with the Knicks, but he'd like to sit down with Jackson and discuss the team's plans for the future before making a decision.

Other Knicks players echoed Anthony's sentiment, calling Jackson as a champion and a leader.

"With his pedigree, he's a champion, he's a leader," Amar'e Stoudemire said. "He knows what it takes to win and he's been around great organizations that have been successful. So hopefully that same input will be placed here in New York."

The 68-year-old Jackson won an NBA-record 11 titles as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He also won two as a player with the Knicks but he has never been an executive.

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Phil Jackson signs on as Knicks team president

Phil Jackson signed on to become president of the New York Knicks for five years at $12 million annually after a lunch meeting with team officials Friday.

The deal, which does not include an ownership stake, has not been made official, but the Knicks have scheduled a news conference Tuesday for a major announcement.

Jackson will take over the running of the Knicks' basketball operations department from president and general manager Steve Mills.

In his first offseason as Knicks president, Jackson has to decide what to do with free agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony, who plans to opt out of the final year of his contract this summer.

Anthony can sign a deal with the Knicks that is one year longer and worth $33 million more than any with another team.

With or without Anthony, the Knicks are expected to be over the salary cap this summer because of the contracts of Amar'e Stoudemire ($23.4 million), Tyson Chandler ($14.6 million) and Andrea Bargnani ($11.5 million), which run through 2014-15.

Jackson probably will also have to hire a coach in the offseason as current coach Mike Woodson may be let go at the end of the season.

TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr, who played for Jackson with the Bulls, already has surfaced as one potential coaching candidate.