WASHINGTON — The Sniper, the Scorer and the Shotblocker. The 3-6 Knicks may or may not win 30 games this season. Brass’ patient master…
WASHINGTON — The Sniper, the Scorer and the Shotblocker.
The 3-6 Knicks may or may not win 30 games this season. Brass’ patient master plan may not ultimately turn the Knicks into a legitimate championship contender one day.
But you can’t argue their rookie threesome of Allonzo Trier, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson isn’t one of the best draft hauls from June.
The Suns boast the trio of Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Elie Okobo. That’s two lottery picks, including the No. 1 selection, and the 31st pick. But after that, the Knicks of Knox (9), Robinson (36) and undrafted Trier have the most NBA buzz. In fact, all three of them could conceivably be invited to the Rookie-Sophomore Game during All-Star weekend. Their progress will make the losing tolerable.
“Scott [Perry, general manager] and his staff deserve the credit for all this,’’ Knicks coach David Fizdale said after Saturday’s practice at Georgetown. “They did all the legwork. They knew going in, this is our No. 1 target. If we don’t get him, here’s where we are. When we get to our 36th pick, they already had their eyes on this kid Mitchell Robinson. Scott said a lot of people will pass on him. Allonzo Trier — to know that’s going to be our guy in a two-way if he doesn’t get drafted, you’re doing your work when you use that. Scott and the staff really did the work.”
There should be a “Wanted’’ poster with Perry’s mug shot at Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush because the Knicks GM has killed the past two drafts at Barclays Center.
Granted, one of them came when Perry ran the Sacramento Kings draft in 2017 — tabbing four players, including De’Aaron Fox, who is coming off a massive triple-double and is likely headed for stardom. Perry also hauled in Justin Jackson, Frank Mason and Harry Giles — all rotation guys and part of the Kings’ 6-3 fast start.
Weeks later Perry moved onto the Knicks, whose 2018 draft is starting to look like a killer through nine games.
It isn’t that Perry didn’t come in with some past draft baggage. Though he was part of the management team that won a title in Detroit, and he helped draft Kevin Durant at No. 2 in Seattle, Perry had his Orlando misses. But even there, Victor Oladipo has emerged into a star in Indiana, Elfrid Payton is posting some naughty numbers in New Orleans and Aaron Gordon has emerged.
It’s a good sign — as was what Perry’s Knicks rookies did in Dallas.
On Friday, as Knox still heals from an ankle sprain, the uber-athletic Robinson made his fourth start, outplayed DeAndre Jordan in posting his first double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, three assists). Trier outdueled Rookie of the Year favorite Luka Doncic down the stretch in scoring 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Fizdale was heard shouting to Trier “whatever you want’’ during the fourth quarter, meaning he had given his new sniper carte blanche.
“He’s giving me the opportunity to use my ability to try to be great,’’ Trier said. “By giving me the trust and having the ball at that moment, I have to make good basketball plays.’’
Knox, the league’s youngest player after Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., has showed he’s got the potential to be a No. 1 option when he hits his 20s. He called himself “a game-time decision’’ for Monday against the Bulls.
Even if he’s not back until later in the week, Knox knows he’ll get his chances.
“Fiz has a lot of confidence in us,’’ Knox said. “He’s going to let us play the way we play. A lot of rookies don’t have that free style to go out and play their game. That’s why I applaud Fiz. He lets us play our game and get a lot minutes rookies don’t get. Mitch is starting to get confidence, Allonzo is doing what Allonzo does and I can’t wait to get out there.’’
