ASK ZINGER!

Knicks franchise player should have say in team’s next coach

Kwhich ristaps Porzingis, who famously blew off his exit interview with Phil Jackson last year, is expected to attend player exit meetings on Saturday,

would certainly represent the first major victory for both Steve Mills and Scott Perry. In fact, the Knicks front office should hold a press conference to celebrate Porzingis’ attendance … as opposed to summoning the media to the training facility in Westchester just to kick poor Jeff Hornacek when he’s down and out.

Unfortunately, Thursday’s press briefing missed its mark. Not sure the front office would appreciate Hornacek holding a news conference to say “did you see the roster they gave me? Red Holzman couldn’t win with that group.” Live and learn.

Here’s an idea: Instead of taking shots at a fired coach and using buzz words like “rebuild” and “patience,” why not say “our owner is upset and he wants to see results. And by results he wants to see the team get better in every area. That means our front office getting better. That means all of our players getting better. And it starts right now with hiring a coach who will make us better. Things are going to change.”

Not sure selling patience was the right approach for a franchise that has won a single playoff series since 2001. Phil Jackson was selling patience when he showed up as well.

And by the way, Knick fans are incredibly patient, to a fault. It’s time to reward their loyalty and hard-earned bucks with some honesty and a competent product.

Saturday will be an interesting day for Mills, the Knicks president, and Perry, the general manager, as they meet individually with the players. The conversation with Porzingis will be a compelling one because he’s recovering from a season-ending knee injury and he’s due for a contract extension on July 1.

We already know from Porzingis’ actions last season that he’s not thrilled with the direction of the franchise. Can’t imagine that has changed.

But as an injured player, does he still have the clout to throw his weight around? Will Mills and Perry ask Porzingis for his thoughts on the next head coach, and will they even care what he says?

“One thing (Scott Perry and I) have in common is that we are very player-centric and communicate with our players frequently and openly,” Mills said. “So I think we always should have a pretty good sense about what our players feel and what we think they need and what we think we need from them, and how all those things reflect and play a part of who ultimately we select as the coach of this team.”

If Porzingis is the future, his voice should matter. For example, David Fizdale is said to be high on the list of coaching candidates. There is talk around the league that the Knicks already spoke briefly to Fizdale recently or before Hornacek was dismissed. (That’s a bad optic for both the team and the candidate.) Regardless, Fizdale was abruptly fired as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies after his feud with mild-mannered Marc Gasol became public. On Friday, Mills said, “Today’s players are very different from yesterday’s players. So you have to be a person that understands who these guys are, where they come from, what their basketball journey is.”

That coded language would seem to hurt Fizdale, who was fighting with the team’s most accomplished player and was eventually dismissed.

Mills and Porzingis, however, may find common ground with David Blatt, Mills’ former teammate at Princeton who has head coaching experience in Europe. Mills has pushed hard for Blatt in previous years, most recently two years ago when Jackson decided to hire Hornacek.

Mills agreed with the hiring because he felt Hornacek had an understanding of both the Princeton offense and Jackson’s beloved triangle offense. It was a compromise.

So while Mills is well within his right to make a coaching change — it happens all the time in every sport — let’s not pretend he wasn’t involved in hiring Hornacek. But now the Knicks want to move in a different direction. So be it.

Like Fizdale, Blatt’s history with the Cavs — winning record, shaky relationships with his star player — could hurt his candidacy.

But it would be wise for the Knicks, assuming they want Porzingis to be part of the team, to include the All-Star forward in the discussions. Just hear him out. It doesn’t mean you have to take his advice but make him feel included.

Plus, on Saturday night Porzingis is expected to get on a plane and head back to Latvia for the summer. Still, Mills and Perry should consider themselves way ahead of the game.

At least Porzingis will make it to this year’s exit meeting.