Report: Raptors pursuing Jackson
The Kings' likelihood of staying in Sacramento could play a part in Phil Jackson landing in Toronto.
The Raptors are poised to make a strong push to lure the decorated former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coach to Toronto as their new president, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.
An owners' committee recommended Monday that the Kings stay in Sacramento, rather than be sold to a Chris Hansen-led group and moved to Seattle. Hansen reportedly would've then offered Jackson the chance to oversee the Seattle franchise in the same way Pat Riley runs the Miami Heat.
With that no longer a possibility, the Raptors feel they have a shot at Jackson, largely because of his longtime friendship with Tim Leiweke. Leiweke was introduced last week as the new CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the Raptors, NHL's Maple Leafs and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.
Leiweke previously ran the company that owns the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Galaxy.
After two years in retirement, Jackson is reportedly seeking to return to the game in which he led the Bulls and Lakers to a combined 11 NBA Championships. He told the San Francisco Chronicle last week that "three or four teams" have already expressed interest and that "none of it involves coaching."
