Phil Jackson reportedly does not have opt-out until 2017

There has been some speculation lately that Phil Jackson could leave the New York Knicks to join his partner Jeanie Buss with the Lakers, but that happening this summer may be unlikely.

According to the New York Post’s Marc Berman, Jackson does not have the ability to opt out of his contract with the Knicks until 2017. Jackson signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the team in March 2014 and is currently in the middle of his second season as president of the franchise.

The Knicks were horrendous in Jackson’s first season, but they had shown improvement in year two following the draft pick of Kristaps Porzingis and a few other trades and signings. However, the team slipped in recent weeks and the decision was made to fire head coach Derek Fisher on Monday.

There has been recent chatter that Jackson’s “companion,” Jeanie Buss, is preparing to clean house in the Lakers’ front office at some point given her brother Jim falling well short of his 3-year plan to turn around the franchise. It would make sense for her to bring Phil in to the team’s front office at that point, but we may be a year early on those plans.