HARD KNOX!
Knicks’ top pick shrugs off fans’ jeers, says it’s motivation to help fix woeful franchise
Kevin Knox was the pick and received the New York reception.
With fans voicing their disapproval that a free-falling Michael Porter Jr wasn't the choice, the Knicks went with the young project at No. 9, Knox of the Kentucky Wildcats factory, who took the boos in stride.
“That's just motivation,” Knox said. “A lot of people want (Porter) to get to the Knicks, but I mean, it's all good with me. I'm ready to get to work. I'm ready to get to work and ready to prove people in Summer League and prove people in the NBA.
“They booed (Kristaps) Porzingis and look where he is now.”
Still only 18 years old, Knox was the second-youngest player drafted Thursday after Jaren Jackson Jr. He also fits a positional need for the Knicks as a versatile wing who, at 6-9, can play either forward position.
GM Scott Perry, a longtime acquaintance of Kentucky coach John Calipari, said he likes Knox's pedigree.
“He fits what we're going to be about,” GM Scott Perry said. “What we've talked about from the very beginning -- he's long, he's athletic, he can play multiple positions. I think he has tremendous upside. He's coming from a program at Kentucky that's produced a lot of great pros so we know he's been challenged there by Coach Calipari.”
But Porter was the bigger name with the bigger upside, and fans were calling his name just before commissioner Adam Silver announced New York's choice. Following the Knox announcement, there was audible disappointment inside Barclays Center.
“Honestly, I was feeling bad for, if it wasn't me, the kid that did get drafted in New York,” Porter said. “That's my guy (Knox), and I'm happy for him. When a kid gets drafted, I'm looking at them and I'm feeling joy, too, because their dreams are coming true, too.”
Porter, who was the projected No. 1 overall pick just a year ago, fell all the way to the Nuggets at No. 14 amid concerns about his surgicallyrepaired back. He logged just three games as a freshman at Missouri following the surgery and, on Thursday, wouldn't rule out the possibility of not playing at all next season.
After postponing a workout in front of all 30 NBA teams because of a sore hip, Porter shared his medical information. Nonetheless, 12 teams – including the Knicks – were scared off.
“There are no perfect players in this league, even young guys who are 18, 19 years old all have something going on with them,” Knicks president Steve Mills. “So we do our due diligence on everyone and then make a decision as to who we think is the best, and Kevin Knox is the best for us.”
Knox averaged 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds last season for the Wildcats, but his shooting wasn't particularly efficient (44.5% overall, 34.1% on 3-pointers). He held an impressive group workout with the Knicks last week during which he outplayed Michigan State's Miles Bridges, who went 12th to the Clippers.
Another Knicks target – Villanova's Mikal Bridges – was picked 10th by the Sixers before being traded to the Suns. Mills claimed Knox was the consensus pick in the draft room.
“We were set tonight,” Mills said. “We had a lot of healthy debate going into the last couple of days but by last night we had figured out exactly what we wanted to do.”
Despite Knox's youth, Perry said he expects major contributions right away – just no guarantees.
“That's going to be earned. We won't give away starting jobs in press conferences or draft nights or anything like that. I think the great thing with him, he has to come earn it.”
Currently, the Knicks have 10 players under contract and only one – Hardaway Jr. – could be penciled in as a sure starter. If Enes Kanter opts into his contract, New York will have no cap space to chase free agents. The team has targeted 2019 free agency when Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard are scheduled to be on the market.