Holes to Phil
Jackson eyes free agency to quickly fix Knicks
Listening to Knicks president Phil Jackson talk — and he doesn’t do it publicly all that often — he doesn’t sound like a man preaching slow builds and long-range plans, but banking on next month’s free agency and an immediate improvement.
It remains to be seen how realistic either of those hopes really are.
Jackson didn’t discuss the upcoming Knicks season at the American Express Teamed Up function in Chelsea, and declined several interview requests by The Post. But he did sit down briefly with local TV reporters, admitting to one that his Knicks have a lot of needs in free agency, but telling another he’s convinced they can be relevant in the Eastern Conference. Not down the line, but next season.
“Why not? I don’t know what’s so great about what’s out here in the East? We can fill that role,’’ Jackson told NBC. Asked if that was realistic — his 32-50 Knicks finishing a dozen games out of the playoffs — he said, “I think so. We’re getting experience. Kristaps [Porzingis] is still a young player. He may need another year of experience. But we’ll put out some experienced guys who can play.”
But Jackson admits that the Knicks roster has plenty of needs, not just point guard, and a host of holes to fill in next month’s free agent period.
“You name it, we’ve got it [needs]. We’re basically just out getting talent, players that fit what we try to do, have a collective thought, team players,’’ Jackson told SNY, saying they have plenty of steps to prepare for next season, even after hiring Jeff Hornacek as their new head coach.
“Do we have a lot of next steps? We have to hire a staff that fits with Jeff. We have to go ahead and enter into what we can get done in the draft in [terms of] players. We’re going through that, workouts right now. We don’t have a draft pick, but we think subsequently we might. Then we get into free agency July 1, which is high time for all teams, but especially for us.’’
Jackson added that he still views Kurt Rambis — who went 9-19 down the stretch last season as coach — as an integral part of the staff going forward and an asset for Hornacek.
“Well, Kurt fits,’’ Jackson told SNY. “He fits in a number of ways. He’s a teammate of Jeff ’s in Phoenix at one point in their careers. He’s also a great team guy, he has a great idea what we’re trying get accomplished, and I think he can help Jeff feel his way through this club and find the best way for them to play.’’
Rambis and Hornacek spent 2 ½ seasons together in Phoenix in the early 1990s. And while Hornacek had to beat out Rambis for the job, he insisted at his introductory press conference that it wouldn’t be awkward to have the latter sitting in an assistant chair next to him.