Big problem forming in the center
The Knicks new leadership tandem of Steve Mills and Scott Perry face a ton of uncertainty with their roster for next season — and the center position may become as big a concern as any. How ironic is that? The Knicks started the season with a glut at center after the Carmelo Anthony trade netted Enes Kanter. Next season, the Knicks, conceivably, could find themselves scrambling, especially with rookie 3-point shooting center Luke Kornet struggling. Of their top four centers entering the regular season, Kanter may have played his last game as a Knick because of a balky back and with an optout clause looming. The Post reported Kanter, a double-double machine this season, is ready to sign with high-powered agent Mark Bartelstein to sort out his situation. Kyle O’Qunn also has an opt-out clause and likely will use it. He’s set to be paid $4.3 million next season. Joining a playoff contender, O’Quinn said recently, will be a factor after he has been on six straight 50-loss teams. The Knicks aren’t expected as a playoff contender next season with Kristaps Porzingis not expected to return until Christmas at the earliest. Porzingis could find himself, upon his return, playing center. Willy Hernangomez, hailed as a foundation piece by Mills in his August online essay, was traded to Charlotte for secondround picks in 2020 and 2021. And finally, Joakim Noah, under contract until 2020, has been banished since late January for his verbal altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek during a practice in Denver. The Knicks likely will use the stretch provision on Noah come Sept. 1 that will open up 2019 cap space. That leaves Kornet, who is shooting just 27.9 percent from 3. The undrafted 7-foot-1 former Vanderbilt center was summoned to Westchester on Monday to play in the G-League playoffs and the club was eliminated by Jerry Stackhouse’s Raptors club after Kornet shot 0-for-9 — 0-for-6 from 3. “We had a rough night individually,’’ Kornet said. “But we had a great season and it was the most fun I had playing basketball. [The Raptors] had done that every time we played them, with pressure and switching and trying to be real physical. It was one of those days.’’ Kornet, 22, also could be hitting the rookie wall. As brass decides whether to re-sign him for next season, the Knicks are desperate for him to shine.
With the Knicks facing playoff teams in each of their last four contests (Miami, Milwaukee, Cleveland twice), there’s a definite chance they won’t win another contest — which bodes well for their chances of locking up the eighth lottery seed. The Knicks and Bulls are tied for the NBA’s eighthworst record and the Bulls play the Nets twice.