Ready for young blood, Knicks look to ’18 draft
ORLANDO, Fla. — “Plummet for Porter.’’ That could turn into the unofficial motto for the 2017-18 Knicks sooner than later. If you haven’t heard of him yet, that’s Missouri 6-foot-10 freshman combo forward Michael Porter Jr., expected to be the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
“He’s a game-changer,’’ one NBA executive told The Post. “This year was a good draft, not sure yet there was a gamechanger.’’
Nobody from the Knicks organization — especially coach Jeff Hornacek — will use the word ‘tanking’ about next season, but if it smells like former Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie’s “Process,’’ it likely is.
According to multiple sources who have spoken to members of the organization, Knicks acting president Steve Mills is all in for a youth movement, except at point guard where they are attempting to find a veteran mentor for 18-year-old Frank Ntilikina.
“The focus is on young players but they still need some veteran presence,’’ said one team executive who has spoken to Knicks officials. “They’re waiting to see where there are good young players that would take shorter deals. The focus is definitely on building around young guys.’’
The timing isn’t great — four straight years out of the playoffs before contemplating a complete rebuild. But they are stuck in between, with a share of veterans but not a roster good enough to do anything beyond an eighth seed at very best. Hence, the attempt to trade Carmelo Anthony, 33, even after Phil Jackson’s ouster.
Dormant in free agency across the first four days, Mills even let their 29-yearold guard Justin Holiday skip away on a two-year, $9 million pact. The Knicks didn’t have to eat 2017 cap space to re-sign him because of the Bird exception. But Mills didn’t want Holiday stealing away 2018 space.
Mills is in Orlando, looking at possibly clearing the decks for 2018 and 2019 free agency, according to sources.
If free agency dries up for the Knicks, a league source said they would look at a trade to fill in their cap space.
The Knicks aren’t handing out lavish multi-year deals and reportedly don’t want to take on any long-term contracts in an Anthony trade. Therefore, a deal with Houston would require three-to-four teams.
“If the Knicks are going to win 35 games next season, might as well do it with young players, fill the roster out with young guys,’’ one NBA source said.
If Ntilikina is ready to start, he wasn’t able to show it at Orlando summer league, as he is likely to miss all five games. The coaching staff has little reading on him. Because Ntilikina’s French team, Strasbourg, made its league final, he wasn’t able to work out for any teams. Hornacek admitted over the weekend, “I haven’t even seen Frank play.’’
Ntilikina said Monday he’d enjoy having Derrick Rose as a mentor but the former Bull is still looking for a bigger payday than what the Knicks and Bucks care to spend. And Rose is expected to meet with the Clippers, who have an $8.3 million midlevel exception, according to ESPN. The Knicks will not go for more than a one-year deal. The Bucks only have their $8.3 million mid-level exception and would either have to dump salary or execute a sign-and-trade with the Knicks, who like Bucks point guard Matthew Dellavedova.
Now Mills has looked into salary dumps for guard Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah and Kyle O’Quinn. The Sixers, ready for a playoff run, offered Lee a contract last summer and have some interest in him, according to a source.
“I think we’re just trying to put the best team out there we can,’’ Hornacek said. “Whether it’s a rebuild or not a rebuild, veteran guys, how it’s going to shake out. We do have several good young players that we hope develop. ... We got some young guys that we can grow with. It all depends on who fills the other spots.’’
Of course, the new boss may have final say. But here’s a word of advice for Knicks fans. Look into getting the SEC package. Watch some Mizzou hoops this winter.