Despite speculation he will trade the pick if point guard D’Angelo Russell is not on the board, Knicks president Phil Jackson said he still believes he is more likely to stay at No. 4 during Thursday night’s NBA draft.
“We’re listening,’’ Jackson said. “We’re not soliciting so much, but we are listening.’’
Asked the percentage of striking a deal to turn the pick into multiple assets, Jackson said, “Short percentage. Small percentage.’’
During a 25-minute gathering with the media, Jackson revealed buzzworthy 7-foot-1 European project Kristaps Porzingis failed to complete his workout Monday with the Knicks because of cramps.
With the 76ers leaning toward taking Russell at No. 3, there has been speculation Jackson would consider Porzingis — despite the notion he could be two years away from making an impact because of his skinny frame.
“We had to change the workout,’’ Jackson said. “He had a cramp in the middle of it. He did go through the workup with the medical staff that was impressive.’’
Jackson gave several hints he prefers older, established prospects, and specifically named Wisconsin senior center Frank Kaminsky and Kentucky junior defensive specialist Willie Cauley-Stein. The Knicks might be able to trade down and still land either player, while adding a cheap veteran who won’t take up too much cap space.
“We’re looking for mature kids who have a reasonable understanding of their skills and have had some success in the past because of it,’’ Jackson said. “We’re looking for a player who physically and socially can grow and develop and do it in fast order as quickly as possible.’’
One source close to the Knicks’ process said, “There are some times you can take that gamble on a project, but the team needs immediate help.’’
Jackson has said he wants to select a player who can be a starter next season. Asked directly if older prospects are good or bad, Jackson said, “It seems to be a negative at this particular time in the history of the NBA, but it’s really a positive for a lot of teams looking to have a player to move into the lineup right away. He doesn’t have to be nurtured and trained.’’
Jackson, however, said he would draft a project if he projected the player can be “a 10-year All-Star down the line. You just don’t want to walk away from that. There’s more ways than one to skin this cat.’’
Jackson sounded as if he still was hoping for the point-guard extraordinaire Russell to fall past the Sixers. The Post reported last week the Sixers likely won’t choose Porzingis over Russell.
“Philly sits ahead of us,’’ Jackson said. “They’ve been an outlier on draft day. We don’t know what they’re going to do. It looks like their needs are guards because of the stockpile of big guys. But we don’t know if that’s what they’ll do. They have a penchant for doing things not according to scale.’’
It wouldn’t be a press conference without a goofy statement from Jackson, who claimed with a straight face: “I did a great job last year of shedding contracts that gives us this position where he have this flexibility.’’
That’s Jackson’s new schtick, coming on the heels of him saying a few weeks ago he deserved Executive of the Year votes in guiding the Knicks to their worst-ever season at 17-65. In truth, Jackson does believe the wretched season could be a blessing in disguise. Had they made the eighth seed and got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, they would have a poor draft pick and J.R. Smith still on the books.
Jackson said the workouts the Knicks staged changed their opinions of some players, but not to the point of changing their positions on the team’s draft board.
Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay and swingman Justise Winslow were high on the Knicks’ list entering workouts. Winslow has all the intangibles Jackson has talked about despite the Knicks needing a big man. Though Kaminsky certainly is a good fit for the triangle, some believe his upside isn’t high enough for a fourth pick.
Asked if they could get a franchise player at No. 4, Jackson said, “We’re hoping we will. It doesn’t jump out that’s a consensus he has the size and physique to do that. It comes in different ways. A player that’s not a big — could be a wing or guard.
“We kind of looked at the process drafting a big,’’ Jackson said, “and picking up a big in free agency and see how they’d work together. That may have to change as this draft comes through as we make choices in the draft and change that up a little bit in free agency.’’