‘We know what we’re doing.’ REALLY?
Jax: I’d deal KP to help future
Knicks president Phil Jackson confirmed Wednesday the team is considering trading young star Kristaps Porzingis, who could fetch a haul during Thursday’s NBA draft. “We have to do what’s good for our club,” Jackson said, adding he does, in fact, know what he’s doing.
Phil Jackson confirmed he is listening to offers for Kristaps Porzingis and would pull the trigger if something is intriguing. However, the Knicks president — who expressed bitterness at the big man’s skipped exit meeting — said nothing has piqued his interest yet but that he has to do “what’s good for our club.”
A source told The Post on Wednesday the Knicks want a top-four pick and another significant asset for the 7-foot-3 Latvian unicorn. Meanwhile, on the Carmelo Anthony front, Jackson gave an indication the Knicks All-Star is still considering invoking his no-trade clause.
In an interview Wednesday night on the eve of the draft on MSG Network, Jackson expressed angst with Porzingis for missing his mid-April meeting — the first time it has happened during his 11-ring NBA post-playing career.
“We’re getting calls,’’ Jackson said. “You know as much as we value Kristaps and what he’s done for us, but when a guy doesn’t show up to an exit meeting, everyone starts speculating on his duration or movability from a club. We’re listening, but we’re not intrigued yet at this level. But as much as we love this guy, we have to do what’s good for our club.”
Asked what is best, Jackson offered: “The future. What it brings? Does it bring us two starters or a draft pick or something even beyond? That is something we have to look at. We know what he is. He’s a unicorn and he’s special.’’
Regarding the fans’ outcry he’d even think of dealing Porzingis, Jackson said, “I think we know what we’re doing. That’s all I can say, even though it hasn’t been apparent in our record the last couple of years. We’ve grown from within, gotten young players that are on the move up. It takes time to rebuild with youth. And I think they have confidence in the fact that we are going to have good players, a good team and be competitive on the court.’’
For the first time, Jackson discussed Porzingis’ missed exit meeting and he didn’t sugarcoat.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a player over 25 years of coaching not coming to an exit meeting, so it hasn’t happened to me,’’ Jackson said. “It happens to other people and other players.”
It did, though, actually happen to Jackson at least once as Shaquille O’Neal reportedly skipped his end-of-season meetings in 2003.
“His brother and his agent have downplayed it, but still it’s a chance for a person to express themselves,” Jackson said. “I had a real good relationship with Kristaps over the last two years. It was kind of surprising.’’
Porzingis and Jackson have yet to speak, but it seems the Zen Master is relishing in letting his young star twist in the trade winds.
There have been reports the Knicks haven’t even reached out, though Jackson said he has.
“I’ve reached out,’’ Jackson said. “We’ve communicated. Not through voice or anything, although I’ve tried to call. It’s no worries. He’s working hard. There’s plenty of pictures on the internet that show him working hard and working at it.”
In fact, Porzingis said in an interview Sunday in Spain with a Latvian journalist he’s “obsessed’’ with the training process.
Jackson said there has been no movement on his trade stance on Anthony, though he admitted the Knicks All-Star has indicated he could want to stay here and has a notrade clause that would block a move.
“Here’s a guy that’s really special, a Hall of Fame player who’s done a lot for our organization and we value him highly,’’ Jackson said. “This is something that is on the long-term kind of situational thing. We’ve expressed the fact that we’ve done a lot of things to put teams together that can win and we haven’t been successful and it might be time for him to try to go somewhere else
“He’s come back and said he’d just as soon stay,’’ Jackson added. “We’re trying to start growing from the youth aspect of it. There will be conversations after the draft and after free agency when teams start reorganizing their rosters.”