Ousted Knicks president Phil Jackson wouldn’t have done this Tim Hardaway Jr. $71 million offer sheet. The Knicks have moved on rapidly in philosophy in the 10 days since Jackson was railroaded out of town by owner James Dolan.
“Young, long and athletic” — that’s the new motto of the Steve Mills-led July reign. Mills is acting president and acting very much like he will stay in that role. The Post reported after the Jackson firing, Mills will be retained, whether in his former general manager role or the presidency, regardless of Tim Leiweke’s methodical search.
“Tim’s not Phil’s type of player,’’ one NBA source who has spoken to Knicks brass told The Post.
Young, long and athletic. The Knicks’ primary goal next season is growing their young core, more so than snatching the No. 8 playoff seed. If it means having a nice spot in the lottery for Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., so be it.
According to an NBA source, the Knicks want to build their team around prospects Kristaps Porzingis, new point guard Frank Ntilikina, center Willy Hernangomez and the 6-foot-6 Hardaway — if Atlanta does not match the generous offer sheet by Saturday night.
That’s three Europeans and a Michigan alum Knicks scouts fell in love with in 2013. The Knicks drafted him 24th before Jackson arrived to clean house with the coaching staff and roster. Nevertheless, the Knicks scouts are still here — Allan Houston, who has Mills’ ear, Mark Hughes, Mark Warkentien, Walker Russell, Jamie Matthews.
Porzingis turns 22 in August. Hernangomez is 23. Ntilikina turns 19 in two weeks. Hardaway is 25.
It’s the new plan, and one not darkened by the cloud of Jackson’s triangle offense or his feuds with Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis. Remember after the season Jackson said he was not looking for “athletes who can jump out of the gym’’ but guys who could fit into a team system. Mills is seeking athletes.
New Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk could stand in the way of Mills’ grand plan, but Hardaway’s deal is a bulky contract for a financially modest club like Atlanta, which already will be paying Kent Bazemore $16.7 million next season. Hardaway and Bazemore essentially play the same position.
The Knicks still have to figure out the Carmelo Conundrum, figure a way to trade him for future assets and not burden their 2019 cap space. They won’t buy him out at this juncture, and hope he is amenable to being traded to one of a raft of winning outposts, not just Houston or Cleveland.
At worst, Anthony returns, stays near his 10-year-old son, attempts to serve as mentor for the youth movement and opts out next summer with fellow Banana Boat free agents, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Maybe the elderly foursome can form their own expansion team in Seattle.
If the Knicks snag Hardaway, it will accelerate their youth movement, with intentions of creating a high-speed, pace-and-space offense for the millennial generation and one Jeff Hornacek implemented in Phoenix.
Hardaway, who was a candidate for Most Improved Player this year after being a first-team All-Rookie as a Knick, is a better fit than Dion Waiters. Mills went after Waiters first because the Syracuse product is unrestricted.
Hardaway, in Jackson’s eyes, didn’t fit into the cerebral, triangle-savvy, pass-first philosophy. And Hardaway and former coach Derek Fisher were at odds.
Vaulting into the starting lineup of a playoff-team Hawks and learning to care about defense under Atlanta taskmaster Mike Budenholzer, Hardaway still has room to grow.
Knicks officials are well-acquainted with Hall-of-Fame finalist Tim Hardaway Sr., who was around the organization a lot during his son’s rookie year before he landed on the Pistons staff. Hardaway Sr. and Knicks officials staged conversations at the Orlando summer league, the father assuring them his son would love a second chance.
Hardaway-for-Jerian Grant on 2015 draft night will go down as one of Jackson’s more lackluster moves, especially because Grant was shipped to the Bulls one year later in the Derrick Rose blockbuster trade.
Porzingis seemed to get the move on Instagram. The 2017-18 Knicks are Porzingis’ team now. Hornacek said in Orlando he’s “probably ready’’ to be No. 1 option next season. That appears to be a fait accompli.
Unless he was hacked again, the 7-foot-3 Latvian put up a Friday post:
The Knicks still want to add a veteran starting point guard on a one-year deal, but won’t have much cap space if the Hardaway deal goes through. If the price is right, the Knicks would take back Rose for one year.
Trading the final three years of Courtney Lee’s pact is a priority. Lee, 32 in October, will make $12 million next season. He could be the backup shooting guard to Hardaway or maybe even play in a three-guard offense if Anthony is gone.
There was considerable fan outrage over the size of the Hardaway offer sheet, but this is an investment. And for the first time in three years, it’s not an investment in the triangle.