Phil Jackson defends his trade with Mavericks
Phil Jackson, right, attends a game between the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Knicks president Phil Jackson defended the Tyson Chandler trade on Twitter on Thursday to a reporter who said he was "hornswoggled'' in the deal.
Jackson tweeted three times at @sheridanhoops, saying he's "okay'' with the trade and "just relax and be patient.''
The Knicks got Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin and two second-round picks, one of which they used on Cleanthony Early, for Chandler and Raymond Felton.
Chandler is having a big season for the 19-8 Mavericks. The Knicks are 5-23, the worst start in franchise history.
"Negative,'' Jackson tweeted. "I'm okay with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our 3 players Jose, Sam and Shane are on the court. Our season got off to a rocky start -- injuries -- Tyson could not have changed the outcome. Trades are judged in 4-5 year terms.''
Jackson also tweeted about Charles Barkley after the TNT analyst said of the Knicks, "Triangle this, triangle that. The Knicks don't have players to run the triangle."
Jackson aimed a tweet back at Barkley: "do I have to mute this game? Chuck just remember your fundamental . . . key to [triangle symbol].''
Amar'e's quick recovery
At the morning shootaround, Derek Fisher said Amar'e Stoudemire would have a recovery day and rest Thursday night. But when Stoudemire learned that Carmelo Anthony wasn't playing, he went to Fisher and said he wanted to play.
"A lot of guys are out,'' said Stoudemire, who had 16 points in a 103-97 loss to the Bulls. "So I wanted to make sure I'm there for my teammates. It's tough right now with us playing without a lot of our guys . . . I just cannot fathom to see our guys struggling and playing without at least one of their star players.''
The Knicks have maintained they want to try to preserve Stoudemire, who has had multiple knee surgeries in his career. The plan now is to rest him in one of the back-to-back afternoon games against the Suns and at Toronto Saturday and Sunday. Stoudemire, a former Sun, prefers to sit in Toronto. "I would love to play against my old team,'' he said. "More likely the second night of the back-to-back, but it's not guaranteed.''
Melo would have fit
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was asked how Anthony -- who was close to joining the Bulls in free agency -- would have fit with Derrick Rose. "I don't even want to go there,'' Thibodeau said. "I think he'd fit great with any team. He's a great talent.''
Thibodeau added, "I have great respect for what he's done. His career, it speaks for itself. The numbers are incredible. He probably doesn't get the credit for being the passer that he is, the playmaker.''Buzzer-beaters
Fisher said Andrea Bargnani is "trying to ramp up'' what he's doing and "is getting closer to being able to participate possibly in practice.'' Bargnani hasn't played this season because of hamstring and calf strains.
With Neil Best
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
