National Basketball Association

Robin Lundberg on Derrick Rose, Phil Jackson and the Knicks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The New York Knicks have had an eventful off-season, hiring a new coach and replacing six of their top nine players based on minutes played. Notably, they traded Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant for Derrick Rose, a move that continues to be hotly debated, especially in light of his upcoming civil trial. The biggest free agent signing was Joakim Noah, a center who has struggled with injuries for two straight seasons and will now will be under contract until he is 35-years-old. Inconveniently, Noah also plays the preferred position of the lone bright spot in the Knicks’ future, sparkling second-year sensation Kristaps Porzingis.

When Phil Jackson was hired to his lucrative position as team president, the goal was ostensibly for him to inculcate his winning pedigree to a franchise that had appeared short-sighted and aimless in their player maneuverings. But now entering the third year under the Zenmaster, will the Knicks finally experience some on-court success? Or will they be back on the cycle of chasing a low playoff seed without any sign of building to a championship?

To help figure out how’s it goink in New York, Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) of ESPN Radio’s First and Last joins Fastbreak Breakfast. He laments the “hamster wheel” of chasing a playoff seed without a long-term plan, covers the best case scenario for the Knicks and weighs in on Rose. He also offers sleeping strategies for having a radio show at 4 am, but demonstrates a disturbing lack of interest in breakfast. It’s the most important thing!

If you have missed them, there are previous Fastbreak Breakfast off-season podcasts focusing on the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Pacers, Bucks, Hawks, Heat, Jazz, plus player interviews with Wade Baldwin IV and Brandan Wright. Fastbreak Breakfast episodes are also available on iTunes, Stitcher and Soundcloud.