Toronto, ON, Canada
The Toronto Raptors are planning to lure legendary coach Phil Jackson out of a two-year retirement and give him a position similar to Pat Riley's role with the Miami Heat.
According to sources, the Raptors are considering offering Jackson a role that will put him in charge of the team's basketball operation.
Recently, it was reported that Jackson is itching to return to the NBA next season but not as coach but to a role similar to Riley that will give him control over the basketball department and the coaching staff.
Jackson also prefers to become a high-level consultant such as Jerry West with the Golden State Warriors.
Jackson is very familiar with Raptors exc Tim Leiweke's work in Los Angeles where he helped get the Staples Center built for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as well as the NHL's Kings.
Leiweke also has a longstanding working relationship with Lakers executive Jeanie Buss, Jackson's fiance.
Leiweke needs to decide whether to keep president Bryan Colangelo and coach Dwane Casey but sources claimed that the team will retain both.
Earlier, Jackson revealed in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that "three or four teams" have already expressed interested and that "none of it involves coaching."
"There are some interesting situations that are presenting themselves, but I really haven't made up my mind yet what I'm going to do," Jackson told the newspaper.
Jackson also said he's interested in joining a developing team "where you'd have the influence in (selecting the) coaching staff and the kind of culture that goes along with it."
Jackson almost came out of retirement early this season when the Lakers fired Mike Brown but he was reportedly beaten out by Mike D'Antoni for the coaching job.
- Spurs Topple Warriors, Advance to NBA West Finals
- Carmelo Anthony Shines with 28 points as Knicks Stay Alive
- Dirk Nowitzki Willing to Take Pay Cut to Give Mavs Salary-Cap Room
- Staying in Sacramento: NBA Owners Reject Kings Move to Seattle
- Defense and Rebounding Lift Pacers to 3-1 Series Lead Over Knicks
- Heat Bump Off Bulls, Advance to East Finals
- NBA Fines Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for Postgame Comments
- Warriors Outplay Spurs in Overtime, Knot Series at 2-2
- Hibbert, Pacers Show Best Form in Beating Knicks
- Marc Gasol, Mike Conley Star as Grizzlies Take 2-1 Lead
- Seattle Pursues Kings with Increased $625M Bid
- Bosh-fueled Heat Hold On to Take 2-1 Series Lead on Bulls
- Tony Parker shines as Spurs take 2-1 lead over Warriors
- Bulls Joakim Noah Tells Reporter Getting 'Finger' Not Fun
- Amar'e Stoudemire to Beef up Knicks Frontline vs Pacers in Game 3
- Kobe Bryant Fights Mom over Memorabilia
- Lakers Forward Pau Gasol to Undergo Regeneration for Knees
- Ray Allen Scores 21 as Heat Tie Series with Bulls
- George Karl Wins NBA Coach of the Year
- Mike Conley's Heroics Push Grizzlies Past Thunder
- Suns Hire Celtics' Ryan McDonough as General Manager
- Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro on Shaky Ground after First-Round Exit
- Pacers Outmuscle Knicks to take Game 1
- Carlesimo Firing Nothing to Do with Nets Playoff Failure
- Joakim Noah Stars as Bulls Oust Nets in Game 7
- Kevin Durant Scores 27 as Thunder Oust Rockets in Six Games
- Zach Randolph Stars as Grizzlies Finish Off Clippers in Six
- LeBron James Earns Fourth MVP Trophy
- Phil Jackson to Advise Pistons During Coaching Search
- Warriors Survive Nuggets Late Rally to Advance
- James Harden Leads Rockets in Cutting Thunder Series Lead to 3-2
- Jeff Green Scores 18 as Celtics Close in on Knicks
- Blazers Damian Lillard Unanimously Selected Rookie of the Year
- Grizzlies Push Clippers to Brink of Elimination
- Andre Iguodala Stars as Nuggets down Warriors in Game 5
- Chandler Parsons Stars as Rockets Avoid Sweep by Thunder
- NBA Relocation Committee Rejects Kings Move to Seattle
- Andray Blatche Sizzles in 4th Quarter as Nets Prevail
- NBA Veteran Jason Collins Comes Out As Gay
- Spurs Coach on Sweep of Lakers: 'It wasn't a fair fight'
- Tony Parker scores 23 as Spurs Sweep Listless Lakers
- Heat Complete Four-Game Double Digit Sweep of Bucks
- Bulls Outlast Nets in Triple OT for 3-1 Series Lead
- Spurs Hand Lakers Worst-Ever Home Playoff Loss
- Raptors Eyeing Phil Jackson as Head of Basketball Operations
- Grizzlies Dominate Clippers in the Paint to Take Game 3
- Ray Allen Sizzles as Heat Scorch Bucks for 3-0 Lead
- Marc Gasol Named 2013 Defensive Player of the Year
- Cavs Like Mike: Brown Returns for Second Stint
- Bobcats Fire Mike Dunlap After 21-61 Season
- Knicks' J.R. Smith Wins NBA's Sixth Man Honor
- Chris Paul Jumper Carries Clippers to 2-0 Series Lead
- Heat President Pat Riley Says Its Doable to Keep Big 3 Intact
- Balanced Scoring Helps Thunder Defeat Rockets
- Dennis Rodman Projects Himself as FBI Informant, Global Peacemaker
- Duncan's Double-Double Helps Spurs top Lakers in Series Opener
- Paul George Triple-Double Lifts Pacers over Hawks
- Eric Bledsoe Lifts Clippers Past Grizzlies
- Carmelo Anthony Scores 36 as Knicks Defeat Celtics
- Kings Ransom? Seattle Group Fears Stern is Siding with Sacramento
- Stoudemire Likely Out for Knicks Opening Playoff Round vs Celtics
- Pistons Fire Lawrence Frank after 29-win Season
- Mike D'Antoni to Remain Lakers Head Coach
iHaveNet.com