Phil Jackson has been hailed as the Savior of Madison Square Garden. While he's not taking the coach's chair, they believe that as President, they can bring big names to the Knicks.

It is also believed that any coach he chooses, as long as it has the Phil Jackson pedigree, will make New York competitive again.

ESPN talked to Eastern Conference scouts (unnamed) and asked about their opinion on the Phil Jackson hiring.

"I think it's going to be a terrible fit.Why would they pay him that amount money when he's never really done that job? I understand his name and resume carry a lot of weight, but being the GM is a completely different deal than coaching. For all [Jackson's] credibility, I just think [Knicks owner James] Dolan would have been better off paying [San Antonio's] R.C. Buford or [Oklahoma City's] Sam Presti something like $6 or $8 million a year to come in there and really rebuild this organization."

Prior to the Press Conference with the formal announcement, The New York Daily News has pegged Jackson's take: "The deal reportedly is for five years for what one NBA source says is $12 million in base salary annually - and worth as much as $15 million per season with incentives."

That salary is higher than any NBA coach's paycheck and higher than the salaries of about half of the NBA players. If you consider that Jackson may not even be physically present in New York and will run the team remotely, it sounds astronomical.

The scout continues: "To me, by hiring Phil, it's just 'win the media hit. Who's going to be strong enough to handle it if the team starts off badly and the fans are chanting, 'We want Phil, we want Phil' all the time? They need a roster overhaul and a change of style of play. And to do all that you need a helluva coach. But is a helluva coach going to want to work under Phil Jackson? It's just a weird dynamic to me all the way around."

While he may be pessimistic, there are many coaches who have made the transition successfully and promoted their protégés at the head coaching position. The best example is Pat Riley of the Miami Heat. First time head coach Erik Spoelstra became a champion coach under his tutelage.

The scout warned, as a parting shot:

"If you think Jason Kidd had a hard job [when he agreed to become coach of the veteran-laded Nets with no coaching experience], this job is going to be harder. Way harder."

Will the huge adjustment pay off? The Knicks need at least two years-and they gave Phil Jackson no less than five.