New York Knicks: Focusing on young players is the right move

At a press conference on Thursday, New York Knicks president, Steve Mills, and general manager, Scott Perry, said their focus is on their young players. That is a smart decision.

Recently, the question for the New York Knicks was if they are going to try to get Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Earlier this week Butler asked to be traded, with the Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Los Angeles Clippers as his preferred destinations.

It appears that the Knicks won’t go after Butler, so that they can focus on their young roster.

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Here’s what Knicks president Steve Mills said at a press conference on Thursday per Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"“Our process and how we’re going to build this team hasn’t changed since we talked about it a year ago, hasn’t changed since I talked about it [three] days ago. We’re committed to not missing any steps. It’s a step-by-step process. We’re focused on guys we have on this roster. How we can build them, develop them and continue on from that point.”"

He added that they are committed to the plan and that they aren’t going to change it just because they see something attractive.

General manager Scott Perry said that they are going to see what they have before deciding what they do with free agency in 2019. New coach David Fizdale is on board with the plan.

Fizdale said:

"“We want to build it from the ground up culturally, through the draft, like Steve is talking about. We don’t want to jump at the shiny things. “We want to make solid decisions and be patient with this process. I’m a big part of that process. If I get rattled or start trying to nudge these guys, I’m too big a chunk to be disrupting this process. I’m locked into developing these kids and pouring in everything that I have into that right now.”"

Focusing on their roster and not worrying about free agency right now is a good move for the Knicks.

The Knicks are in a rebuilding mode after struggling for many years. Focusing on 2019 free agency would be a distraction for the Knicks and would cause the rebuild to fail.

Another reason why focusing on their roster is good is because of the young players.

The Knicks have rookies Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina , whose only 20 years old, and Kristaps Porzingis.

While Porzingis is already a star, we need to see what Knox and Robinson have, and Ntilikina can only get better. Focusing on the future would hurt the development of Knox, Robinson, and Ntilikina.

Focusing on their young players is a smart move by the Knicks.

Another smart move by the Knicks is not taking any risks with Prozingis as far as when he comes back or with his contract extension.

As for getting Prozingis back, Mills told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

"“There are a series of tests that are taking place to see exactly where he is in his rehab, and as he hits certain milestones we’ll continue his rehab process all towards the direction of when he feels 100 percent comfortable, when we feel 100 percent comfortable. We’re not taking any risks with him.”"

As far as Porzingis getting an extension, Perry told Bondy that the team is in a good space with Porzingis and that they will do the right thing by him and the organization.

The Knicks are smart to be focusing on their young players rather than the future and 2019 free agency.

Next. Potential Knicks Draft prospects for 2019. dark

Now, we’ll have to see if focusing on young players translates to a successful season.

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