Phil Jackson Reportedly Has Interest in Joining Portland’s Front-Office

There have been rumblings all summer long that Phil Jackson wants to take up a front-office role in the NBA, and according to the latest report, the Zen Master is interested in taking a job with the Blazers. Per the Oregonian: “Phil Jackson has interest in joining the Trail Blazers in a non-coaching role, a source close to the legendary coach said, but it is unclear whether owner Paul Allen has interest in Jackson. ‘Phil would be interested in talking about a possible role in the organization,’ the source close to Jackson said. ‘My sense is there is a lot Phil can offer by being there, be it handling players, advising trade scenarios, managing coaching staff … I think he would be a tremendous adviser to the owner.’ Allen, through Vulcan, Inc. spokesperson Christina Siderius, stuck to company policy involving searches. ‘Out of respect for the people involved, we won’t be commenting while the search for a new team president is under way. The same applies to the search for a new head coach.’ In the spring, Jackson’s agent Todd Musburger spoke several times with then-Blazers president Larry Miller, who wanted Jackson to coach the Blazers. Jackson eventually told Miller he wasn’t interested in coaching, but he left feeling ‘pleased and impressed’ with the Blazers, according to the source close to Jackson. Miller resigned on July 6, and Allen said he would open a national search. Jackson has yet to be approached as the Blazers are engulfed in free agency and a coaching search.”