MAKE A STRONG CASE
Knicks’ Porzingis: With weight, I can defend
Defense is not a dirty word in Latvia or to the Knicks’ new 7foot3, superskinny sharpshooter, Kristaps Porzingis. The 19yearold vowed he will become better on that side of the ball and try to make coach Derek Fisher play him significant minutes, even as a rookie.
Porzingis indicated his minutes will be low in his first season if he doesn’t defend well. Knicks president Phil Jackson, after his surprising and criticized selection with the No. 4 pick at Thursday’s NBA draft, said he expects the athletic Porzingis to score, even as a rookie, but struggle on the defensive end.
“Everybody’s worried about my ability to guard stronger guys that’s something I have to work on, get stronger myself,’’ Porzingis said at his introductory press conference at the Knicks’ practice site. “As soon as I’ll be able to play [well] on defense and protect the rim, I’ll get more minutes, and offensively I can show my skills more. But I have to work on that, getting stronger and more physical.’’
The Knicks are listing Porzingis at 73 instead of his European measurement of 71 — which is calculated without shoes.
“I don’t mind that because that’s to my advantage, my length,’’ Porzingis said.
But his weight is 233 pounds — possibly soaking wet. He believes in a few years, he’ll be up to 265 pounds and playing center. But he will monitor what an ideal weight is for him; he doesn’t want to lose any speed.
Jackson said he’s not overly concerned Porzingis is too light after a recent conversation with Pau Gasol, his former Lak ers AllStar center.
“[Gasol] was 227 pounds when drafted by Memphis,’’ Jackson said. “He said, ‘I was a skinny kid when I came in the NBA too. It’s a not about that. It’s about strength.’ ”
In the hours before the draft, onsite ESPN reporter Chris Broussard reported the Knicks were taking point guard Emmanuel Mudiay with the fourth pick if there wasn’t a swap. However, when the Knicks were confident they could trade Tim Hardaway Jr. if Notre Dame senior point guard Jerian Grant fell to No. 19, the need for Mudiay evaporated.
Jackson said his top adviser, Clarence Gaines Jr., solidified in De cember that Porzingis would be on their radar following a trip to Madrid to watch a game after a recommendation from European scout Kevin Wilson. General manager Steve Mills, on his European trip, also caught a Porzingis game to confirm Gaines’ findings. Jackson never went overseas. “He texted me from Madrid that he’s a player to consider for our first draft pick,’’ Jackson said. “It was an eyeopening experience. Someone says it could be a onceinalifetime opportunity, I have to consider it.’’
The Knicks will enter freeagency, which begins July 1, with no center or shooting guard on the roster and Hardaway, an AllRookie Team selection in 2014, now Hawk.“a We think
the skill Jerian has kind of fit what we’re looking for in guard play,’’ Jackson said, likely referring to Hardaway’s defensive and passing shortcomings.
Jackson needed a penetrator — which Grant is — and a combo guard who could play alongside incumbent point guard Jose Calderon. Grant has never played the triangle offense and is known as a screen-and-roll type.
“We like them having a knack of playing together and playing off each other,’’ Jackson said. “I really enjoyed watching him in the NCAAs because of how he breaks down a defense, gets teammates big shots and big men layups. He has the ability to bend the defense.”
Porzingis and Grant will debut at the Knicks’ summer league in Las Vegas on July 11.
“He has a feeling about winning that’s really strong,’’ Fisher said of Grant. “I had a good conversation in the interview process. We like his makeup mentally.’’