New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis Can Redeem Phil Jackson

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Jackson doesn’t have the greatest reputation as an NBA executive, but drafting Kristaps Porzingis might be his redemption with the New York Knicks.

Boos rang around Barclays Center as Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks drafted 19-year old Kristaps Porzingis in 2015. A 19-year-old that ticked every box of the stereotypical European big man.

Tall, lanky, a decent jump shot for a guy 7’3″ and most notably, he was an unknown.

In typical draft-night fashion, many of the locals saw a name on the board they didn’t recognize and labeled it a bust the second the name was called.

It happens almost every year.

It may be the hot take nature of sports today or the deafening ignorance that only grows louder as more flock to social media. But as the boos swirled around the Barclays Center and calls of “bust” began to trend on social media, Jackson sat with a smile.

He knew what he had done and knew this Latvian prodigy would be his redemption.

Since becoming president of basketball operations in 2014, there have been constant questions surrounding his ability as an executive.

His hiring of good friend and rookie coach Derek Fisher was a nightmare.

The five-year, $124 million contract given to Carmelo Anthony still has three more years of scrutiny and question marks surrounding it.

But one thing that is met with unwavering praise and confidence is Porzingis. Despite not being the case on draft night, he is now considered the future of the franchise.

He may also be the piece that resurrects Jackson’s executive reputation and further solidifies his place as one of the greatest minds in NBA history.

After a rookie season that had the doubters in the stands crawling back into their caves of inaccurate hot takes, Porzingis is now being discussed as the new leader and face of the Knicks.

Those he matches up against on the court have always been wary of him though, with the likes Kevin Durant telling ESPN’s Royce Young he’s a big fan of the big man:

“He can shoot, he can make the right plays, he can defend, he’s a 7-footer that can shoot all the way out to the 3-point line, that’s rare. And block shots — that’s like a unicorn in this league.”

Jackson saw the unicorn in Porzingis and is calling is now calling on all of his greatest powers to redeem his time in the front office.

The Three Ball

A 7’3″ guy with a 7’7″ wingspan isn’t your typical three-point threat but Porzingis isn’t your typical NBA player.

Shooting a respectable 33 percent from beyond the arc in his rookie season, Porzingis has come out firing for 2016-17, currently shooting 40 percent on the three-ball.

Taking more three-point shots was a plan Jackson had discussed with Porzingis throughout the preseason and it’s now paying dividends.

“I think that’s a high percentage shot for me. Last year Phil Jackson, he told me that he likes that shot. I wasn’t so sure about it at first. It was early in the offense. I didn’t know if it was the best shot. But once we saw the percentages he said it’s a pretty good look if I get that.”

Averaging 5.5 attempts a game, the three-point shot accounts for 33 percent of Porzingis’ field goal attempts with 87 percent of those threes attempted from above the 3-point-break.

Being able to pop out of the pick and roll to bury a three only adds to the headache defenders already have when trying to guard Porzingis.

Cutting towards the basket and spending time in the restricted area doesn’t make it any easier for the opposition either.

In The Paint

When receiving the ball in the paint the lanky Latvian is lethal.

After telling Ian Begley of ESPN.com that he wanted to improve on the 51 percent he was shooting from the restricted area last season, Porzingis started adding moves.

“Everybody wants to see me play better in the post, that’s one thing that’s going to help us in the triangle so I’m adding moves to my post game.”

Shooting 71 percent in the restricted area so far this season, the work is paying off. The moves he’s added and the strides he’s made in the gym–in particular, the added strength of his lower core–have made him a genuine threat in the post.

One scout told the New York Post “his balance is better — a stronger base.’’

Porzingis doesn’t plan on being thrown around by stronger, grown men for much longer.

His length already allows him to draw contact while still being able to throw up the circus shot that seems to frequently fall. Once he adds some extra size and can begin to bully opposition defenders, Porzingis might be unstoppable.

Defending

Averaging just shy of two blocks per game and a defensive rating of 106.6, Porzingis is solid but not quite polished. He can be pushed around a bit and makes the mistakes you would expect from a 21-year old in his second season. But those traits are all fixable.

In fact, they are already being fixed.

Earlier in the season saw one game in particular where Porzingis was a defensive liability. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek decided to use the off night as an opportunity to address those mistakes he is making, telling the New York Post:

“It’s not learning the defense, it’s learning the players,’’ Hornacek said. “Some of that you learn with experience, some of it studying tape.”

Hornacek gave Porzingis the best seat in the house to study spots on the court and plays he should and shouldn’t be making on the defensive end.

The bench.

Porzingis is a student of the game and takes every opportunity to absorb and learn. That night was no different. But Hornacek didn’t stop getting in the big man’s ear according to Newsday.com:

“The biggest thing we emphasize with KP — which is tough when you’re 7-3 — is bending your knees. We try to emphasize from the other standpoint, if you’re a guard and you see a 7-3 guy who’s bent down and has his arms out, 7-foot-3 wide, it’s hard to go around.”

Trying to throw one up over a guy that is 7’3″ is never a good idea. Especially one with the defensive instincts and footwork of Porzingis. Staying on his feet and using his length to deter good looks is a recipe for disaster if you’re the other 29 NBA teams.

Hornacek is making strides into creating an offensive and defensive beast.

He’s breeding a unicorn.

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Redeeming Jackson

With Jackson’s fiance Jeanie Buss being the president of the Los Angeles Lakers, he would love to get one over on his old franchise and future wife. He has already had a few digs and their missed opportunity to draft Porzingis:

“We knew that [Porzingis] had a lot of talent. We saw that even in the workout with him shooting, and I had some fun with one of the Buss guys and I told him after [our] workout, ‘You guys are going to be sorry if you don’t pick up Porzingis with the second pick.’ They didn’t, we did.”

More important than bragging rights at home is his legacy. To win as a player, a coach, and as an executive puts him as one of the all-time legends of the NBA in every regard.

Jackson already has 11 rings as a coach of the great Chicago Bulls of the ’90s (six) and Lakers of the 2000s (five) . He also has one as a player as part of the 1973 NBA champion New York Knicks.

One as an executive seems unlikely today, but with the current development trend of Porzingis, it can’t be ruled out in the future.

It was going to take something magical to pull Jackson out of the mess in New York and Porzingis may be it. There are those that will always question his unorthodox techniques but at the end of the day, he already has a handful of rings as a player and a coach.

Adding one as an executive isn’t out of the question, but he’s relying on what has previously been known only as a mythical being.

Phil Jackson is relying on Kristaps Porzingis.