BURN FOR BRIDGES
SIGNS POINT TO KNICKS TAKING NOVA STAR TONIGHT
On the eve of Thursday’s NBA draft, Villanova junior Mikal Bridges, a Philadelphia native, called New York his “second home.”
General manager Scott Perry, running his first draft for the Knicks and essentially with more power than he has ever had, is eyeing making New York Bridges’ permanent home. It would be a safe pick for a franchise in no position to roll the dice and leaning toward taking the best small forward on the board.
Unless the Knicks move up into Memphis’ fourth spot for center Mohamed Bamba, sources have indicated Bridges still is the favorite to be the Knicks’ selection with the ninth pick Thursday — even if Michael Porter Jr. falls.
The Knicks are starting to get cold feet on the uber-talented Porter after his latest mishap last week, when he incurred hip spasms before his on-again, off-again, on-again public workout in Chicago.
Now there are even rumblings about Porter — who played just three games at Missouri because of back surgery — taking next season off to get stronger, which the small forward said Wednesday would be up to his future team. Porter again hinted he has a guarantee from a top-end lottery team.
A source confirmed the Knicks had talks with Memphis, which is fervently shopping its pick, and Knicks coach David Fizdale met with Bamba at the players’ hotel Wednesday. Reportedly Memphis will only trade the pick if it dumps Chandler Parsons’ massive contract, and Fizdale has coached Parsons.
In the big picture, Knicks president Steve Mills and Perry need to land a central building block who will contribute next season to show Kristaps Porzingis, a restricted free agent in 2019, there’s a future, and also to entice free agents next summer. Bridges or Bamba could be that guy.
Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving is squarely on the radar, so the Knicks won’t make a Memphis deal if it ruins their chances of having maximum cap space in 2019.
Though Kentucky freshman forward Kevin Knox opened the Knicks’ eyes with a surprising workout and has gotten consideration late in the process, Bridges is the best bet. Perry said recently adding “a solid rotational player” at No. 9 is as important as shooting for an All-Star.
“They’re really interested in me,” Knox said. “Coach Fizdale loves the way I can pretty much play everywhere on the court.”
Bridges, who will turn 22 during training camp, checks the most boxes — except superior upside. He’s a twotime NCAA champion who shoots the 3-pointer, is known as a selfless teammate and plays the gritty defense new coach David Fizdale is attempting to instill in the Knicks.
It doesn’t hurt that he has saved his best for the Garden and has spent the past several weeks living in Westchester, working out at Manhattanville College. Mills has scouted Bridges extensively, and the organization has done exhaustive research on him, interviewing Villanova athletic staff and faculty.
“I had a lot of my best games here,” Bridges said at a Midtown hotel. “Maybe it’s the lights. Maybe it’s knowing Madison Square Garden and so many performed here and you get more focused.
“New York feels like a second home. Especially coming from Villanova. Coach [Jay] Wright loves New York, coming from Hofstra. A lot of Villanova guys work on Wall Street. I’ve probably been in New York more than any other state.”
MSG Network’s Wally Szczerbiak raved about Bridges in a Post interview but believes the Knicks still need a point guard and should take Collin Sexton or Trae Young if either is on the board. Szczerbiak is not sold on incumbents Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke or Emmanuel Mudiay.
If Bridges is off the board (Chicago has some interest at No. 7) and the Knicks opt for Sexton over Duke center Wendell Carter Jr. and Knox — whom Kentucky coach John Calipari designated as the next Jayson Tatum — it would be a clear indictment of their current point guard cast. Some NBA personnel believe Sexton’s body is NBA-ready while Young may need a year to get stronger.
The Knicks’ front office was gaga over Young with his potential to be the next Stephen Curry. However, Fizdale, who appears to have been given a good share of clout, is a defense-first coach, and there are concerns in the organization about Young being a two-way player.
Despite being the most electric player in the draft, Young’s stock is reportedly slipping because of his defense. Defense, though, is where Bridges shines brightest.
“Coach Fizdale likes pace, tempo, kick-out, get in transition, shooting a lot of 3s,” Bridges said. “And that plays in my game. The thing about him, he wants to defend. That plays into my game. The coaching staff with Fizdale coming from Miami, he knows what it takes to win.”
Porter’s situation is fascinating, but if he drops to ninth, there are probably legitimate reasons.
“They all have my medical records, and I think for the most part they’re comfortable,’’ said Porter, who met with the Knicks last week in Chicago. “They know my talent level. They just want to know I’ll be healthy and play at least 10 years.”
Porter has never played at the Garden and complained of the Midtown crowds, saying it took him “one hour to walk two blocks.’’ Bridges, who has faced St. John’s and played Big East Tournaments there, has owned the arena.
“It’s a great spot,” Bridges said. “I had a couple of my best games. I feel it’s one of the best atmospheres, even compared to March Madness. It’s really cool just the way the lights are, the crowd. Every shot you make it goes crazy.”